Algebra Examples

$15 a - 3 a b + 4 b - 20$

Step 1

Regroup terms.

$- 3 a b + 15 a + 4 b - 20$

Step 2

Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

Group the first two terms and the last two terms.

$(- 3 a b + 15 a) + 4 b - 20$

Step 2.2

Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.

$3 a (- 1 b + 5) - 4 (- b + 5)$

Step 3

Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor, $- 1 b + 5$ .

$(- 1 b + 5) (3 a - 4)$

Step 4

Rewrite $- 1 b$ as $- b$ .

$(- b + 5) (3 a - 4)$

Step 5

Factor $- 1$ out of $- b + 5$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1

Factor $- 1$ out of $- b$ .

$(- (b) + 5) (3 a - 4)$

Step 5.2

Rewrite $5$ as $- 1 (- 5)$ .

$(- (b) - 1 (- 5)) (3 a - 4)$

Step 5.3

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (b) - 1 (- 5)$ .

$- (b - 5) (3 a - 4)$