SOLUTION: My teacher wants us to factor this problem on a handout and show all work. This is the problem: 5a^3b^2 + 4a^4b I broke it down to 5 * aaabb + 2*2*aaaab The GCF: ab, 2a^2

SOLUTION: My teacher wants us to factor this problem on a handout and show all work. This is the problem: 5a^3b^2 + 4a^4b I broke it down to 5 * aaabb + 22aaaab The GCF: ab, 2a^2

Question 184068: My teacher wants us to factor this problem on a handout and show all work. This is the problem:
5a^3b^2 + 4a^4b
I broke it down to 5 * aaabb + 2*2*aaaab
The GCF: ab, 2a^2
Is this correct?
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Your prime factorization is correct, but I'm not sure you have the idea of common factors:

There is a factor of 5 in the first term, and zero factors of 5 in the second, so there are zero factors of 5 in the GCF.

There is are zero factors of 2 in the first term, and 2 factors of 2 in the second, so there are zero factors of 2 in the GCF.

There are 3 factors of a in the first term, and 4 factors of a in the second, so there are 3 factors of a in the GCF.

There are 2 factors of b in the first term, and 1 factor of b in the second term, so there is 1 factor of b in the GCF.

So the GCF is

Therefore:

John

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