Question

Factor 60x−84 using the GCF.

Answer 1

First, we need to find the GCF (greatest common factor) of each of the number.
1.  List out the prime factors of each of them. 
2. Multiply the prime factors that the two numbers have in common
60 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 5 
84 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 7 
The common factors are: 2 and 3 
GCF = 2 × 2 ×3 
GCF = 12 
Factor out 12 from the equation 
12(5x - 7)