Question

Find the greatest common factor of the terms in each of the following expression:
5a⁴ + 10a³ − 15a²

Answer 1

Terms are expressions separated by plus or minus signs. Here, the terms are 5a⁴, 10a³ and 15a².
The numerical coefficients of the given monomials are 5, 10 and 15. The greatest common factor of 5, 10 and 15 is 5.
The common literal appearing in the three monomials is a.
The smallest power of a in the three monomials is 2.
The monomial of common literals with the smallest powers is a².
​Hence, the greatest common factor is 5a².