find the gcf plz explian
a^3b times a^2 times b^2

Question

find the gcf plz explian
a^3b times a^2 times b^2

anonymous · Answer

gcf is greatest common factor, right?

anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

so, the largest common "a" term in both is the a^2, since the first has an "a^3" and the second only has "a^2" in it.

In the same way, the largest b common to both is just b... even though the second term has a "b^2", the first term only has "b".

So the GCF is (a^2)b

anonymous · Answer

is there an easyer way to explian it?

anonymous · Answer

:) I could try... did I lose you?

anonymous · Answer

oh, I  may have misunderstood the question...

anonymous · Answer

kind of

anonymous · Answer

Is the problem really all one term?  I first read it as two separate terms... misread the middle "times" as the word "and"

a^3b times a^2 times b^2

anonymous · Answer

yes that is the question

anonymous · Answer

Like this?
$$a ^{3}b * a ^{2}b ^{2}$$

anonymous · Answer

Sorry, no wonder my answer was confusing.

anonymous · Answer

actually instead of a multpication sign its a ( , )

anonymous · Answer

Ok, that actually  makes more sense.  So it's two terms...
$$a ^{3}b,  a ^{2}b ^{2}$$

anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

So, GCF is like factoring out the biggest amount you can from both terms.  To make it seem easier, just pretend b=2, so b^2 =4
Then the two terms are $$a ^{3}(2), a ^{2}(4)$$

anonymous · Answer

So the GCF of this easier example would be 2a^2, since you can factor the first term as $$2a ^{2}(2a)$$ and the second term as $$2a ^{2}(b ^{2})$$

anonymous · Answer

See why 2a^2 is the GCF in that example?

anonymous · Answer

kind of how did you get to $$2a ^{2}(b ^{2})$$

anonymous · Answer

Ug, I messed it up.  should have been $$2a ^{2}(2b ^{2})$$

anonymous · Answer

Maybe I shouldn't have tried for an easier example... I am confusing myself now.  Let me take a quick look at it again to make sure I'm not mixing the real question with my (supposedly) easier example.  Sorry for all the confusion!!

anonymous · Answer

i think ive got it thank you for your time

anonymous · Answer

$$a ^{3}b, a ^{2}b ^{2}$$  These 2 terms can be factored like:
$$(a ^{2}b)(a), (a ^{2}b)(b)$$

anonymous · Answer

@ashtartamo1  Just posted the actual factoring... the GCF is the first term in parenthesis in each part.  Sorry again...