Find the Common Factor in 6x² + 8x: Algebraic Terms Practice

Question

We factored the expression

6x2+8x 6x^2+8x

into its basic terms:

6xx+8x 6\cdot x\cdot x+8\cdot x

What common factor can be found in these terms?

Step-by-Step Solution

First, consider the expression 6x2+8x 6x^2+8x . We want to factor out the greatest common factor of the terms.

Both terms, 6x2 6x^2 and 8x 8x , contain the factor x x . Therefore, x x is a common factor.

But we can keep factoring the numbers as well. 6 6 can be factored to 23 2\cdot3 , and8 8 can be factored to 24 2\cdot4 .

Write each term showing the factor x x : 23xx \blue2\cdot3\cdot \orange x\cdot x and 24x \blue 2\cdot4\cdot \orange x .

Therefore, the greatest common factor is 2x 2\cdot x .

Answer

2x 2\cdot x