How do you find the greatest common factor of
x^(2)y^(4), xy^(6)

Please explain step by step

Question

How do you find the greatest common factor of
x^(2)y^(4), xy^(6)

Please explain step by step

anonymous · Answer

x^2y^12 is not the correct answer

anonymous · Answer

is the whole xy to the 6th? like (xy)^6 ?

anonymous · Answer

$$x ^{2}y ^{4}, xy ^{6}$$

Thats the question, the answer to the problem is xy^4

anonymous · Answer

yep that is indeed correct xy^4 is the hcf because they both have the factor of xy^4.

anonymous · Answer

they both can only have one x and the highest y value is 4, hence xy^4.

anonymous · Answer

i dont underdstand how to get xy^4 can you show me the steps?

anonymous · Answer

Take the lowest exponent of x times the lowest exponent of y

anonymous · Answer

so x^2y^4, xy^6 right? 
Factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number.
x^2y^4   factors> (x^2, y^4)
xy^6       factors> (x, y^6)
and remember it's "common factors" so they have to contained in both hence for x it is just x also known as x^1 and y is y^4.

anonymous · Answer

That's the best way I can explain it, I hope it helps.