Pre-Algebra Examples

$2 a^{5} - 2 a^{4}$ , $- 16 a^{5} - 9 a^{4}$

Step 1

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from $2 a^{5} - 2 a^{4} - 16 a^{5} - 9 a^{4}$ .

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Step 1.1

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from each term in the polynomial.

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Step 1.1.1

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from the expression $2 a^{5}$ .

$a^{4} (2 a) - 2 a^{4} - 16 a^{5} - 9 a^{4}$

Step 1.1.2

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from the expression $- 2 a^{4}$ .

$a^{4} (2 a) + a^{4} (- 2) - 16 a^{5} - 9 a^{4}$

Step 1.1.3

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from the expression $- 16 a^{5}$ .

$a^{4} (2 a) + a^{4} (- 2) + a^{4} (- 16 a) - 9 a^{4}$

Step 1.1.4

Factor out the GCF of $a^{4}$ from the expression $- 9 a^{4}$ .

$a^{4} (2 a) + a^{4} (- 2) + a^{4} (- 16 a) + a^{4} (- 9)$

Step 1.2

Since all the terms share a common factor of $a^{4}$ , it can be factored out of each term.

$a^{4} (2 a - 2 - 16 a - 9)$

Step 2

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

$a^{4}$