SOLUTION: Factor a negative number or a GCF with a negative coefficient from the polynomial -12a^5+12a^4-4a^3

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Question 189937: Factor a negative number or a GCF with a negative coefficient from the polynomial
-12a^5+12a^4-4a^3
Answer by schrammbledeggs(41) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can factor out a -4 since that can be easily divided into 12 and you can take out an a^3 since that can be easily divided into a^5 and a^4...so in the end you can end up factoring out an entire -4a^3 out of each of the three parts of the polynomial:
-12a^5 / -4a^3 = 3a^2

12a^4 / -4a^3 = -3a

-4a^3 / -4a^3 = 1

So in final factored form your polynomial looks like:

-4a^3 (3a^2 - 3a + 1)

:)