SOLUTION: Hi; I'm not certain I'm in the right place with this question: Please factor these expressions: 12a^3y + 48a^2y^2 + 48ay^3 I've got a GCF of 12, then I'm lost... Please he

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Hi; I'm not certain I'm in the right place with this question: Please factor these expressions: 12a^3y + 48a^2y^2 + 48ay^3 I've got a GCF of 12, then I'm lost... Please he      Log On


   

Question 326975: Hi; I'm not certain I'm in the right place with this question:
Please factor these expressions: 12a^3y + 48a^2y^2 + 48ay^3
I've got a GCF of 12, then I'm lost...
Please help?!?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
12a^3y + 48a^2y^2 + 48ay^3
----
12 is the gcf of the coefficients
a is the gcf of the "a" factors
y is the gcf of the "y" factors
------------------------------------
Factor:
= 12ay(a^2 + 4ay + 4y^2)
---
= 12ay(a+2y)(a+2y)
==========================
Cheers,
Stan H.