if I FACTOR that
what would it be? sorry for asking
I'm just confused right now ahah
2007-12-28 10:31:12 · 8 answers · asked by ahhitsjenny 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
7x - ax
There are two terms in this equation: "7x" and "- ax" (Yes you must remember the negative). What do they both have in common? Once you find it, you factor it out by dividing it from the terms, and placing it outside of the brackets.
To illustrate, here's an example:
6a + 15ac
In this expression, both terms have "a" in common, and the number coefficient can be divided by 3.
(3)(2)a + (3)(5)ac
So, you can factor out 3 and "a" and get:
3a(2 + 5c)
2007-12-28 10:41:27 · answer #1 · answered by Mimi Lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does it mean to factor?
Factor is the OPPOSITE of multiplication.
Start by finding the Greatest Common Factor of the polynomial you were given.
What number or letter is found in BOTH terms?
How about x?
I see the letter x TWICE, right?
We "factor out" x.
Then, we divide each term by the letter x.
We have two terms:
(1) 7x
(2) -ax
Together the terms make up what is called a POLYNOMIAL.
We REMOVE x and place it outside parentheses.
What goes inside the parentheses?
The polynomial, right?
We then divide EACH TERM by x.
We have this:
Factor 7x - ax
1-Factor out x and place the polynomial inside the parentheses.
x(7x - ax)
2-Divide each term inside the parentheses by the outside letter x.
7x divided by x = 7
-ax divided by x = -a
Final answer: x(7 - a)
What does x(7 - a) really mean?
It means we have TWO factors:
x is a factor and the quantity (7 - a) is the other factor.
If you were to multiply x times (7 - a), you would end up with your ORIGINAL polynomial.
This is how we know that x(7 - a) is the correct answer.
Got it?
NOTE: How do we read x(7 - a)?
This is read: "x times the quantity seven minus a."
2007-12-28 18:47:16 · answer #2 · answered by Mathland 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take an x out of both numbers. x(7-a)
2007-12-28 18:36:08 · answer #3 · answered by phythic 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they have in common x , so we factor x out , whatever left is inside parenthesis
x( 7-a)
2007-12-28 18:33:49 · answer #4 · answered by Helper 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
find the common variable and coefficient (factor)
1x ( 7-a)
2007-12-28 18:54:43 · answer #5 · answered by ViewtifulJoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
x(7-a)
2007-12-28 19:06:34 · answer #6 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
7x-ax = x(7-a)
2007-12-28 18:37:31 · answer #7 · answered by james w 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
x(7 - a)
There ya go babe.
2007-12-28 18:38:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋