To factor the expression \(-18 + 42x\), we can start by looking for a common factor between the two terms, \(-18\) and \(42x\).
The greatest common factor (GCF) of \(-18\) and \(42\) is \(6\). We can factor out \(-6\) from the expression, since we want to maintain the signs correctly as \(-18\) is negative.
Here are the steps for factoring:
- Factor out \(-6\): \[ -18 + 42x = -6(3 - 7x) \]
Thus, the completely factored expression is: \[ -6(7x - 3) \]
If you want to express it in a different form, note that: \[ -6(3 - 7x) = -6(-7x + 3) \]
So, both forms \(-6(3 - 7x)\) and \(-6(7x - 3)\) are valid factorizations of the original expression \(-18 + 42x\).
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