Question

Factor the following
42x+28y

Answer 1

14(3x + 2y)

Find the GCF.

It is 14.

Use the distributive property.

Then, multiply each term.

Answer 2

To find the GCF, do the prime factorization of both numbers.

42 = 2 x 3 x 7

28 = 2 x 2 x 7

The GCF uses the numbers that appear in BOTH, 2 x 7 = 14 is the GCF of the numbers. There is no variable GCF because there isn't a variable that appears in both.

Taking out the GCF gives you:

14(3x + 2y)

Explanation: