Question 273210
Simplify the polynomial by factoring out the Greatest Common Factor
-11a^2b^2 + 3ab^2 
ab^2 (-11a + 3) This is my answer but the system says the answer is 
-ab^2 (11a - 3) How do you take a negative from a postive 3.
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Your answer is just as good as the "answer book".
Factoring out the negative is arbitrary.
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But you should realize (a-b) = -(b-a) = -b+a
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Even 3 = -(-3)
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So you see you can always get a negative factor if it serves your purpose.
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Cheers,
Stan H.