Basic Math Examples

m (a - b) + a - b

$m (a - b) + a - b$

Step 1

Apply the distributive property.

m a + m (- b) + a - b

$m a + m (- b) + a - b$

Step 2

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

m a - m b + a - b

$m a - m b + a - b$

Step 3

Rewrite

m a - m b + a - b

$m a - m b + a - b$ in a factored form.

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Step 3.1

Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.

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Step 3.1.1

Group the first two terms and the last two terms.

(m a - m b) + a - b

$(m a - m b) + a - b$

Step 3.1.2

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

m (a - b) + 1 (a - b)

$m (a - b) + 1 (a - b)$

m (a - b) + 1 (a - b)

$m (a - b) + 1 (a - b)$

Step 3.2

Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor,

a - b

$a - b$ .

(a - b) (m + 1)

$(a - b) (m + 1)$

(a - b) (m + 1)

$(a - b) (m + 1)$