SOLUTION: What is the GCF for the polynomial 12x3y2 - 20x5y3?

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Question 71047: What is the GCF for the polynomial 12x3y2 - 20x5y3?
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, Earlsdon:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
GCF for the polynomial 12x3y2 - 20x5y3
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Look at the coefficient 12 and 20: GCF is 4
Look at the x-factors : GCF is x^3
Look at the y-factors : GCF is y2
Therefore the GCF for the polynomial is 4x^3y^2
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find the GCF of:
12x%5E3y%5E2-20x%5E5y%5E3
One approach is to factor the terms.
12x%5E3y%5E2+=+3%2A4%2Ax%5E3%2Ay%5E2 and
20x%5E5y%5E3+=+5%2A4%2Ax%5E3%2Ax%5E2%2Ay%5E2%2Ay
You can see that the common factors in these terms are:
4%2Ax%5E3%2Ay%5E2 So these can be factored out.
4x%5E3y%5E2%283-5x%5E2y%29