Help with factoring expressions?

Question

I am a 7th grader in Florida about to take standardized testing in reading, math, and science. I am doing a math review and need help on factoring expressions problem. Here is the problem, please answer and explain how you did it. You know what right answer and best explanation gets!:)

3n+9

Answer 1

In that expression there are two TERMS 3n & 9

You have to break the terms into there simplest parts and figure out what is common between them



eg 3n = 3 X n

9 = 3 X 3



Because they both have a 3, this is called the Greatest Common Factor, because it is common between both terms.



Factoring means "create brackets" so the GCF goes on the outside.

Whatever is left over goes on the inside



3 (n + 3)

Answer 2

on a two term problem, i.e. 3n+9, you would find the greatest common factor between the two terms. Since 3 is a prime number, and 9 is divisible by 3, 3 would be the gcf. You then divide the problem by the gcf, so your final answer would be

3(n+3) When you are finished with your problem, there should not be a gcf between the two terms in parentheses.



For a three term problem, i.e. 3+7x+4x^2, you would need to split the middle term, by multiplying the first term, 3, by the coefficiant of the last term, 4, to get 12. Then, you find the factors of 12, that add up to get the middle term. The factors would be 3x4, and 3+4=7. so then you would write out the entire problem as 3+3x+4x+4x^2. then, you factor as with the two term factoring by splitting the problem into two smaller problems. So you would then get: 3(1+x)+4x(1+x) Since the two equations in parentheses are the same, you would take the two terms outside the parentheses and put them in parentheses together, and just do away with one of the (1+x). your final answer should come out to be (3+4x)(1+x). If you have any more math problems, message me or something. I am really good at math, and am still in high school. I am a sophomore, and am in Trigonometry, and have taken pre-calculus, so come to me for help! =]

Answer 3

To factor something, first pull out the GCF or greatest common factor. This is the highest number or variable that goes into the whole thing.



3n + 9



3(n+3)



That's as simplified as it gets. Good luck on your test!