Question 298048
Do you mean something like 3x^2 + x?

What is a common factor?

A Common Factor is a number that divides two or more numbers or terms exactly (without a remainder).

In the sample above, the common factor is x because x divides EXACTLY into 3x^2 without a remainder.

After finding the common factor, the next thing to do is to divide every term by that common factor.

Factor 3x^2 + x.

3x^2 divided by x = 3x

x divided by x = 1

Final answer to my sample question: x(3x + 1)