Question

Which expression is equivalent to 15x + 18?

a) 3(5x + 6)
b) 5(3x + 6)
c) 15x - 18
d) 15(x + 18)

Answer 1

The expression equivalent to 15x + 18 is 3(5x + 6), found by factoring out the greatest common factor which is 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expression 15x + 18 can be rewritten in its equivalent factored form by finding a common factor for both terms. In this case, the common factor is 3. If we factor out the 3, we get 3 times the quantity of 5x (since 15x divided by 3 equals 5x) plus 6 (since 18 divided by 3 equals 6). Hence, the factored form of 15x + 18 is 3(5x + 6).

Let's show the steps:

1. Identify the greatest common factor of 15x and 18, which is 3.
2. Divide 15x by 3 to get 5x.
3. Divide 18 by 3 to get 6.
4. Write out the factored expression as 3(5x + 6).

By following these steps, we find that the option a) 3(5x + 6) is equivalent to 15x + 18.