Factorization

The factorization we do by extracting the common factor is our way of modifying the way the exercise is written, that is, from an expression with addition to an expression with multiplication.

For example, the expression
2A+4B2A + 4B
is composed of two terms and a plus sign. We can factor it by excluding the largest common term.
In this case it is 2 2 .

We will write it as follows:
​​​​​​​2A+4B=2×(A+2B)​​​​​​​2A + 4B = 2\times (A + 2B)

Since both terms ( A A and B B ) were multiplied by 2 2 we could "extract" it. The remaining expression is written in parentheses and the common factor (the 2 2 ) is kept out.
In this way we went from having two terms in an addition operation to having a multiplication. This procedure is called factorization.

A - Factorization

You can also apply the distributive property to do a reverse process as needed.
In certain cases we will prefer to have a multiplication and in others an addition.

Practice Factorization: Common factor extraction

Examples with solutions for Factorization: Common factor extraction

Exercise #1

Break down the expression into basic terms:

8y2 8y^2

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 8y2 8y^2 , we identify the basic components. The expression y2 y^2 is a shorthand fory×y y \times y . Therefore, 8y2 8y^2 can be decomposed as 8yy 8 \cdot y \cdot y .

Answer

8yy 8\cdot y\cdot y

Exercise #2

Break down the expression into basic terms:

3a3 3a^3

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 3a3 3a^3 , we recognize that a3 a^3 means a×a×a a \times a \times a . Therefore, 3a3 3a^3 can be decomposed as 3aaa 3 \cdot a\cdot a\cdot a .

Answer

3aaa 3 \cdot a\cdot a\cdot a

Exercise #3

Break down the expression into basic terms:

8y 8y

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 8y 8y , we can see it as the multiplication of 8 8 and y y :

8y=8y 8y = 8 \cdot y

This shows the expression as a product of two factors, 8 8 and y y .

Answer

8y 8\cdot y

Exercise #4

Break down the expression into basic terms:

5m 5m

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 5m 5m , we recognize it as the product of 5 5 and m m :

5m=5m 5m = 5 \cdot m

This expression can be seen as a multiplication of the constant 5 5 and the variable m m .

Answer

5m 5\cdot m

Exercise #5

Break down the expression into basic terms:

5x2 5x^2

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 5x2 5x^2 into its basic terms, we identify each component in the expression:

5is a constant multiplier 5 \, \text{is a constant multiplier}

x2 x^2 means xx x \cdot x

Therefore, 5x2 5x^2 can be rewritten as 5xx 5 \cdot x \cdot x .

Answer

5xx 5\cdot x\cdot x

Exercise #6

Break down the expression into basic terms:

3y3 3y^3

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 3y3 3y^3 into its basic terms, we understand the components of the expression:

3is a constant multiplier 3 \, \text{is a constant multiplier}

y3 y^3 can be rewritten as yyy y \cdot y \cdot y

Thus, 3y3 3y^3 can be decomposed into 3yyy 3 \cdot y \cdot y \cdot y .

Answer

3yyy 3\cdot y\cdot y \cdot y

Exercise #7

Break down the expression into basic terms:

4a2 4a^2

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 4a2 4a^2 into basic terms, we need to look at each factor:

4is a constant multiplier 4 \, \text{is a constant multiplier}

a2 a^2 means aa a \cdot a

Hence, 4a2 4a^2 is equivalent to 4aa 4 \cdot a \cdot a .

Answer

4aa 4\cdot a\cdot a

Exercise #8

Break down the expression into basic terms:

6b2 6b^2

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 6b2 6b^2 into its fundamental parts, we analyze each element:

6is a constant multiplier 6 \, \text{is a constant multiplier}

b2 b^2 represents bb b \cdot b

Therefore, 6b2 6b^2 is decomposed as 6bb 6 \cdot b \cdot b .

Answer

6bb 6\cdot b\cdot b

Exercise #9

Break down the expression into basic terms:

3x2+2x 3x^2 + 2x

Step-by-Step Solution

The expression can be broken down as follows:

3x2+2x 3x^2 + 2x

Breaking down each term we have:

- 3x2 3x^2 becomes 3xx 3\cdot x\cdot x

- 2x 2x remains 2x 2 \cdot x

Finally, the expression is:

3xx+2x 3\cdot x\cdot x+2\cdot x

Answer

3xx+2x 3\cdot x\cdot x+2\cdot x

Exercise #10

Break down the expression into basic terms:

4x2+3x 4x^2 + 3x

Step-by-Step Solution

The expression can be broken down as follows:

4x2+3x 4x^2 + 3x

1. Notice that both terms contain a common factor of x x .

2. Factor out the common x x :

x(4x+3) x(4x + 3) .

3. Thus, breaking down each term we have:

- 4x2 4x^2 becomes 4xx 4x \cdot x after factoring out x x .

- 3x 3x remains 3x 3 \cdot x after factoring out x x .

Finally, the expression is:

4xx+3x 4x\cdot x + 3\cdot x

Answer

4xx+3x 4\cdot x\cdot x+3\cdot x

Exercise #11

Simplify the expression:

5x3+3x2 5x^3 + 3x^2

Step-by-Step Solution

To simplify the expression 5x3+3x2 5x^3 + 3x^2 , we can break it down into basic terms:

The term 5x3 5x^3 can be written as 5xxx 5 \cdot x \cdot x \cdot x .

The term3x2 3x^2 can be written as 3xx 3 \cdot x \cdot x .

Thus, the expression simplifies to5xxx+3xx 5 \cdot x \cdot x \cdot x + 3 \cdot x \cdot x .

Answer

5xxx+3xx 5\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x + 3\cdot x\cdot x

Exercise #12

Rewrite using basic components:

6z2+z 6z^2 + z

Step-by-Step Solution

To rewrite the expression 6z2+z 6z^2 + z , break it down into basic components:

The term 6z2 6z^2 can be expressed as 6zz 6 \cdot z \cdot z .

The term z z is 1z 1 \cdot z .

Thus, rewriting gives 6zz+1z 6 \cdot z \cdot z + 1 \cdot z .

Answer

6zz+1z 6\cdot z\cdot z + 1\cdot z

Exercise #13

Break down the expression into basic terms:

4x2+6x 4x^2 + 6x

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression4x2+6x 4x^2 + 6x into its basic terms, we need to look for a common factor in both terms.

The first term is 4x2 4x^2 , which can be rewritten as 4xx 4\cdot x\cdot x .

The second term is6x 6x , which can be rewritten as 23x 2\cdot 3\cdot x .

The common factor between the terms is x x .

Thus, the expression can be broken down into 4x2+6x 4\cdot x^2 + 6\cdot x , and further rewritten with common factors as 4xx+6x 4\cdot x\cdot x + 6\cdot x .

Answer

4xx+6x 4\cdot x\cdot x+6\cdot x

Exercise #14

Break down the expression into basic terms:

5x2+10 5x^2 + 10

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 5x2+10 5x^2 + 10 , identify the common factors.

The first term is 5x2 5x^2 , which can be rewritten as 5xx 5\cdot x\cdot x .

The second term is 10 10 , which can be rewritten as 52 5\cdot 2 .

Notice that both terms share a common factor of 5 5 .

This allows the expression to be broken down to 5(x2)+10 5(x^2) + 10 , which translates to 5xx+10 5\cdot x\cdot x + 10 using common terms.

Answer

5xx+10 5\cdot x\cdot x+10

Exercise #15

Break down the expression into basic terms:

3y2+6 3y^2 + 6

Step-by-Step Solution

To break down the expression 3y2+6 3y^2 + 6 , we need to recognize common factors or express terms in basic forms.

The term 3y2 3y^2 can be rewritten by breaking down the operations: 3yy 3\cdot y\cdot y .

The constant 6 6 remains as it is in its basic term.

Thus, the broken down expression becomes 3yy+6 3\cdot y\cdot y + 6 .

Answer

3yy+6 3\cdot y\cdot y+6

Topics learned in later sections

  1. Algebraic Method
  2. The Extended Distributive Property