document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=298048>Question 298048</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> where do you find the common factor in an expression consisting of various terms? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #214513 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nyc_function><B>nyc_function(2741)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nyc_function><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=nyc_function><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=214513\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Do you mean something like 3x^2 + x?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What is a common factor?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A Common Factor is a number that divides two or more numbers or terms exactly (without a remainder).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In the sample above, the common factor is x because x divides EXACTLY into 3x^2 without a remainder.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "After finding the common factor, the next thing to do is to divide every term by that common factor.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Factor 3x^2 + x.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x^2 divided by x = 3x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x divided by x = 1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Final answer to my sample question: x(3x + 1)\r<BR>\n" );
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