Question

FACTORING:
(-3z^5w^2)(-18z^3w^4)
I'm pretty much baffled as to what we do in this situation. what're the steps to factoring this?

Answer 1

Remove the parentheses, and multiply both sides. You can greatly reduce the equation.

Answer 2

(54w^6z^8) would be simplified.

Answer 3

what exactly do multiply? like.. what with what?

Answer 4

@zordoloom How did you get the w over there with the 54? Wouldn't it be 54z^8 w^6
(I'm just finishing factoring in alg.2, srry if that's wrong)

Answer 5

I think was just a typo to be honest

Answer 6

It's the same thing 54z^8w^6 and 54w^6z^8. Its algebra basics.

Answer 7

I came out with 54z^8w^6

Answer 8

@tumblrfanatic "How did you get the w over there with the 54? Wouldn't it be 54z^8 w^6 "

Multiplication is commutative.

Answer 9

oh that's right. commutative

Answer 10

But to answer the question: given (-3z^5w^2)(-18z^3w^4), It is already factored, there is nothing to do.

Answer 11

It's all multiplication, you can pull apart the factors however you want and it won't make a difference.

Answer 12

It is 54z^8w^6
It doesn't make sense to switch the variables around.

Answer 13

@laihei , it is standard form to put variables in alphabetical order.

Answer 14

if you switch the variable around, nothing should change. Multiplication works both ways. 2x4 = 4x2

Answer 15

@laihei I normally organize my letters in alphabetical order.

Answer 16

Af. Okay then yeah, 54w^6z^8

Answer 17

At best, the most you could do here is provide the prime factorization of 54 via fundamental theorem of arithmetic.

Answer 18

I still stand by my original answer that the expression is already in factored form and thus there is nothing to do.

Answer 19

I believe you, but I think my teacher just wanted me to write the equation differently. 54z^8w^6 I think is the best answer

Answer 20

Then the instructions should have been to "Simplify the expression."
Telling you to factor something that is already factored is a waste of time.

Please tell your teacher to be more precise with instructions.

Answer 21

if there are no more questions, I think I'm ganna close this and possibly start a new question with a new factoring problem.

Answer 22

and you're right. He's very casual with us, so precise instructions are usually rare. :/

Answer 23

Ok, make sure it actually is *factoring* before you call it "factoring." If it is actually *simplifying* then so state.

Answer 24

Mathematics is all about precision. A math teacher lax about precision is not a math teacher!

Answer 25

Understand that I live in an area where education is not merely as serious or important as other larger and more educated cities.