How would you rewrite the expression 18x^3y^4+12x^5y^2 by factoring out the GCF?

Answer 1

To factor out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) from the expression 18x^3y^4 + 12x^5y^2, we need to find the highest power of x and y that is common to both terms.

The highest power of x that is common to both terms is x^3, and the highest power of y that is common to both terms is y^2.

Therefore, the GCF is x^3y^2. Factoring it out, we get:

18x^3y^4 + 12x^5y^2 = x^3y^2(18y^2 + 12x^2)