SOLUTION: How do you factor out -1 from the polynomial: -x - 2y Thank you!

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Question 289432: How do you factor out -1 from the polynomial:
-x - 2y

Thank you!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hint: Factor -x into -1*x and -2y into -1*2y. So -x - 2y = -1*x-1*2y. Now use the distributive property ab+ac=a(b+c). Note: in this case, a=-1, b=x and c=2y