SOLUTION: Factor completely, then state the Greatest Common Factor. I am totally lost, can you help me? x^2-9 x^2-6x + 9 Thank you! I tried the first one, but I am not sure i

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Factor completely, then state the Greatest Common Factor. I am totally lost, can you help me? x^2-9 x^2-6x + 9 Thank you! I tried the first one, but I am not sure i      Log On


   

Question 715717: Factor completely, then state the Greatest Common Factor. I am totally lost, can you help me?
x^2-9
x^2-6x + 9
Thank you!
I tried the first one, but I am not sure if I am correct. Since there is no number that goes into both x^2 and 9, you have to use 1 as your GCF. So I got 1(x^2-9) is that right, or am I totally off?
The second one, again, didn't have a number in common, so I got 1(x^2-6x+9)
Found 2 solutions by solver91311, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


is the difference of two squares. The difference of two squares factors to a conjugate pair of linear binomials, such as

is a perfect square trinomial. You can tell because half of the first degree coefficient squared is equal to the constant term, as in

Once you have correctly factored each expression, the common factor should be obvious.

John

Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Follow the instructions and factor completely FIRST.

x²-9 factors as (x-3)(x+3) 

x² - 6x + 9 factors as (x-3)(x-3) [or (x-3)²]

So the expression (x-3) goes into both (x-3)(x+3) and (x-3)(x-3)

They both contain factor (x-3) so that's the GCD.

Edwin