Answer:
3x + 12
Explanation:
Factoring straddles the line between multiplying and dividing. Let's take a look at the following expression:
3x + 12
Both 3x and 9 have a three in common, so we can factor out that three:
3x ÷ 3 = x
12 ÷ 3 = 4
Now that 3 has been factored out, we set it aside what's left:
3(x + 4)
We can get our original expression by distributing (by multiplying) that 3 back in:
x * 3 = 3x
4 * 3 = 12