To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the terms in the expression 4a^3b^2 + 16ab + 8a^2b^3, you need to identify the highest power of each variable (a and b) that appears in all the terms and the common factors (if any).
Let's break down each term:
1. 4a^3b^2: The highest power of a is a^3, and the highest power of b is b^2.
2. 16ab: The highest power of a is a^1, and the highest power of b is b^1.
3. 8a^2b^3: The highest power of a is a^2, and the highest power of b is b^3.
Now, let's find the common factors:
- The GCF of the coefficients (4, 16, and 8) is 4.
- The GCF of the powers of a is a^1 (since it's the lowest power that appears in all terms).
- The GCF of the powers of b is b^1 (again, the lowest power that appears in all terms).
So, the GCF of the terms in the expression is 4ab.