Question

Find the common factors of the terms

(i) 12x, 36

(ii) 2y, 22xy

(iii) 14pq, 28p²q²

(iv) 2x, 3x², 4

(v) 6abc, 24ab², 12a²b

(vi) 16x³, −4x², 32x

(vii) 10pq, 20qr, 30rp

(viii) 3x²y³, 10x³y², 6x²y²z

Answer 1

(i) 12x = 2 × 2 × 3 × x

36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3

The common factors are 2, 2, 3.

And, 2 × 2 × 3 = 12

(ii) 2y = 2 × y

22xy = 2 × 11 × x × y

The common factors are 2, y.

And, 2 × y = 2y

(iii) 14pq = 2 × 7 × p × q

28p²q² = 2 × 2 × 7 × p × p × q × q

The common factors are 2, 7, p, q.

And, 2 × 7 × p × q = 14pq

(iv) 2x = 2 × x

3x² = 3 × x × x

4 = 2 × 2

The common factor is 1.

(v) 6abc = 2 × 3 × a × b × c

24ab² = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × a × b × b

12a²b = 2 × 2 × 3 × a × a × b

The common factors are 2, 3, a, b.

And, 2 × 3 × a × b = 6ab

(vi) 16x³ = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × x × x × x

−4x² = −1 × 2 × 2 × x × x

32x = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × x

The common factors are 2, 2, x.

And, 2 × 2 × x = 4x

(vii) 10pq = 2 × 5 × p × q

20qr = 2 × 2 × 5 × q × r

30rp = 2 × 3 × 5 × r × p

The common factors are 2, 5.

And, 2 × 5 = 10

(viii) 3x²y³ = 3 × x × x × y × y × y

10x³y² = 2 × 5 × x × x × x × y × y

6x²y²z = 2 × 3 × x × x × y × y × z

The common factors are x, x, y, y.

And,

x × x × y × y = x²y²