Question

how do you simplify 3x^4-12x^3

Answer 1

what do you see common in both terms

Answer 2

You can factor

\[\large 3x^4-12x^3=3x^3(x-4)\]

Answer 3

a 3

Answer 4

wait so you make it that and thats the answer? jim

Answer 5

you can factor out a 3, but you can also factor out \[3x^3\] since that's the GCF of the two terms.

Answer 6

k so how do i factor?

Answer 7

You factor by first writing the GCF outside the parenthesis, then you write the result of dividing \[3x^4\] by \[3x^3\] (which is just 'x') followed by the result of dividing \[-12x^3\] by \[3x^3\] (which is just -4)


So you go from \[3x^4-12x^3\] to \[3x^3(x-4)\]

Answer 8

ok so whats the answer?

Answer 9

\[3x^3(x-4)\] is the factored answer, but since they want you to simplify, there's not much that can be done to simplify \[3x^4-12x^3\]. Is there more to the problem?

Answer 10

no. so the answer is 3x^3(x-4)?

Answer 11

well since that's the only thing you can do to it, I would say yes, that's the answer.

Answer 12

k thank u?

Answer 13

thank you