Pre-Algebra Examples

$- 24 a^{6} b^{- 1} c^{- 3}$ , $12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c$

Step 1

Factor out the GCF of $- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$ from $- 24 a^{6} b^{- 1} c^{- 3} + 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c$ .

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Step 1.1

Factor out the GCF of $- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$ from each term in the polynomial.

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Step 1.1.1

Factor out the GCF of $- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$ from the expression $- 24 a^{6} b^{- 1} c^{- 3}$ .

$- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3} (2 a^{7} b) + 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c$

Step 1.1.2

Factor out the GCF of $- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$ from the expression $12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c$ .

$- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3} (2 a^{7} b) - 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3} (- c^{4})$

Step 1.2

Since all the terms share a common factor of $- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$ , it can be factored out of each term.

$- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3} (2 a^{7} b - c^{4})$

Step 2

The greatest common factor $GCF$ is the term in front of the factored expression.

$- 12 a^{- 1} b^{- 2} c^{- 3}$