Question

How do you factor `20x^3y + 30x^2y^2`?

Answer 1

`20x^3y + 30x^2y^2 = 10x^2y(2x+3y)`

Explanation:

Given:

`20x^3y + 30x^2y^2`

Notice that both terms are divisible by `10`, `x^2` and `y`. So both terms are divisible by `10x^2y` and we can separate that out as a factor:

`20x^3y + 30x^2y^2 = 10x^2y(2x+3y)`

Having separated out this common factor, the remaining factor is linear and has no simpler factors.