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Mathematics 19 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

a^4+a^2 plz help!!!

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

the gcf of a^4 and a^2 is ....?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

2?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

close, more like a^2

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

since a^4 = a^2*a^2 and a^2 = 1*a^2, they have the common factor of a^2 between them and it's the largest common factor

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so a^2 is the final answer?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

no, that's just the GCF

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oooo

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so i can i solve it?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

now you just factor the GCF out

OpenStudy (anonymous):

how do i do that?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

rewrite a^4 as a^2*a^2 and a^2 as a^2*1 So a^4+a^2 becomes a^2*a^2 + a^2*1

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

now use the distributive property in reverse to get a^2(a^2 + 1)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

ok so a^2(a^2+1) would be the answer?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yes

OpenStudy (anonymous):

thnk you!!!!!

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yw

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