SOLUTION: I am trying to find the greatest common factors for this equation 3x^(5)+3x^(4)-18x^(3)+18x^(2).

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Question 489173: I am trying to find the greatest common factors for this equation 3x^(5)+3x^(4)-18x^(3)+18x^(2).
Found 2 solutions by rfer, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by rfer(16322) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
3x^2(x^3+x^2-6x+6)

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
3x5+3x4-18x3+18x2
The coefficients are 3,3,-18, and 18.  3 is the largest integer that
all of them are divisible by:

The variable parts are x5, x4, x3, and x2.  x2 is the largest
power that all of them will divide into. [It sounds contradictory
that "the smallest is the largest" but the smallest power is the
largest power that can be taken out]. 

So the greatest common factor GCF is 3x2, and

3x2(x3+x2-6x+6)

is the simplest factored form.


Edwin