Question

Tawanna is asked to find the GCF of each term in the expression . Her work is shown below. Factors of 2ab: 1, 2, a, and bFactors of 8b: 1, 2, 4, 8, and bGCF: (1)(1)(2)(2)(

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b.Which best describes the error in Tawanna’s solution?Tawanna factored one or both pieces of the expression incorrectly. Tawanna did not include each factor in the GCF. Tawanna should have used each common factor once. Tawanna included only one of the variables in her solution.

Answer 1

Tawanna should have used each common factor once

Explanation:

She has the factors of 2ab:

1, 2, a, b.

And the factors of 8b:

1, 2, 4, 8, b.

So to find the GCF she has to get the biggest factor that is common to both and the variables common to both.

In this case, the greatest common factor of both is 2 and the common variable is b.

So the GCF is 2b, and her mistake is multiplying all the common factors of one times the common factors of the other.

Answer 2

2ab: 1, 2, a, b 8b: 1, 2, 4, 8, b

GCF: 1, 2, b

Answer:
Tawanna should have used each common factor once.