4a²b - 2abx INTO 2ab(2a-x)
How do I change the first one into the latter?

Question

anonymous · Answer

take out the greatest common factor

anonymous · Answer

ok so i have 2ab(?????) whats the next step?

anonymous · Answer

Don't read the answer, do the problem if you divide 4 by 2?

anonymous · Answer

what do you mean

anonymous · Answer

The 2ab is what you are taking out, what you are dividing by. So you divide the first part 4a^2b by 2ab.

anonymous · Answer

divide? i thought i was supposed to multiply, how does one divide 4a^2b by 2ab?

anonymous · Answer

I think you should start on a simpler problem

anonymous · Answer

the earlier problems on this page were very simple, this is just the next step :S

anonymous · Answer

These questions usually say something like simplify. In order to simplify you divide by the common factor eg 4-2 can be written as 2(2-1)

anonymous · Answer

Factor out a 2ab since they have it in common to get:

2ab(2a-x).

anonymous · Answer

simplifying is what i was doing in the last chapter, this chapter i'm turning 4a²b - 2abx into 2ab(2a-x), i dont know what thats called in english

anonymous · Answer

Smorlaz, i've factored them out, what i dont get is how to get the (2a-x) part in that result ??

anonymous · Answer

Let me try to explain it, when you do factor out 2ab for each, what is left over is (2a-x).  2ab is a common factor for the original equation. 

When you multiply 2ab(2a-x), you get 2a^2b - 2abx.