Question

Your friend incorrectly factors the expression 15x - 20xy as 5x (3 - 4xy). What error did your friend likely make?

A. Your friend did not factor the variable from the second term.

B. Your friend did not have the correct operation inside the parentheses.

C. Your friend did not factor the variable from the first term.

D. Your friend did not simplify the terms inside the parentheses.

Answer 1

A. Your friend did not factor the variable from the second term.

Explanation:

15x - 20xy

Your friend was correct in factoring out 5x. However, when you factor out a component from an expression, you have to change each component in the expression.

This means that factoring out 5x will result in: 5x(3 - 4y).

Therefore, your answer is:

A. Your friend did not factor the variable from the second term.

Hope this helps!