document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=384076>Question 384076</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I don't understand this part. Where do you use the common factor in an expression consisting of various terms? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The actual question is What is a common factor? Where do you use the common factor in an expression consisting of various terms? What is the Greatest Common Factor?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #271867 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><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=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=271867\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A common factor is a factor that can be divided evenly into each of the terms of an expression.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Take the expression 9 + 27 + 54.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3 can be divided evenly into 9 and into 27 and into 54, so 3 is a common factor.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "9 can be divided evenly into 9 and into 27 and into 54, so 9 is also a common factor.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The greatest common factor is 9 because that is the largest factor that can be divided evenly into each of the terms of the expression.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You use the common factor in an expression consisting of various terms in order to simplify the expression so that it can be solved easier.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Consider the expression (3x^3 - 17x^2 + 18x - 12) / (x^2 - 5x + 6)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Consider that you know that the numerator in this expression is equal to (x^2 - 5x + 6) * (3x-2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The expression becomes ((3x-2) * (x^2 - 5x + 6)) / (x^2 - 5x + 6).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the common factor of (x^2 - 5x + 6) cancels out and you are left with a result of (3x-2).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Knowing what the common factor is made the division much simpler than not knowing what the common factor is.\r<BR>\n" );
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