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Expert: - 9/9/2009


Question
how do i factor this:
24x^3y-8x^y

Answer
The numbers are 24 and 8.  That factors of 24 are 3*2*2*2 and the factors of 8 are 2*2*2.
It can be seen that the numbers are then 3*8 and 8, so an 8 factors out.

As written, the x would be cubed first, and then multiplied by y.
However, since there is an x^y in the second term, I would guess the first one to be x^(3y).
This would mean that x^y can be factored out leaving x^2y and 1.

Putting this altogether gives us (8x^y)(3x^(2y) - 1).

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