Question

Show how to use the greatest common factor of 84 and 72 to rewrite 84m - 72n as a product of two factors

Answer 1

The simplified expression is: 12(7m - 6n)

Explanation:

Greatest common factor between 84 and 72

We keep dividing 84 and 72, while they can be divided by the same factor. So

84 - 72| 2

42 - 36|2

21 - 18|3

7 - 6

So the greatest common factor is 2*2*3 = 12.

Rewrite 84m - 72n as a product of two factors

Evidencing 12

`84m - 72n = 12((84m)/(12) - (72n)/(12)) = 12(7m - 6n)`