Final answer:
The greatest common factor of 45 and 36 is 9, so to factor it out from the expression 45a - 36d, you get the equivalent expression 9(5a - 4d).
Step-by-step explanation:
To factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from the expression 45a - 36d, you first need to identify the largest number that divides both 45 and 36 without leaving a remainder. The GCF of 45 and 36 is 9. After determining the GCF, you will divide each term by 9 and factor it out of the expression. This will give you:
45a - 36d = 9(5a - 4d)
Now, the expression 9(5a - 4d) is equivalent to the original expression, but it has been factored to show the greatest common factor.