What is the greatest common factor of #52x^5# and #12x^4#?

1 Answer
Feb 11, 2016

52x^5 factors into (2)(2)(13)xxxxx
12x^4 factors into (2)(2)(3)xxxx

The greatest common factor would be (2)(2)xxxx= 4x^4

Explanation:

Factors are numbers and variables which when multiplied together yield a specific term. For example the factors for the term 6y^2 would be (2)(3)(y)(y) = 6y^2
In your question I factored each term and "extracted" the common factors; 2 ,2, and xxxx. Multiplied together they yield 4x^4 or the greatest commonfactor