How do you factor #xy-7x+7y-49#?

Question

4062 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-06-01T03:07:37

#(x+7)(y-7)#

Given: #xy - 7x + 7y - 49#

Use group factoring. Group the first and third terms and the second and fourth terms:

#(xy + 7y) + (-7x - 49)#

Factor the greatest common factor (GCF) of each group:

#y (x + 7) - 7(x + 7)#

Notice that both contain the factor #x + 7#. This is the GCF of both groups:

#(x + 7)( y - 7)#