how do you factor 12b^2+8y^3

Question

whpalmer4 · Answer

Okay, look at the coefficients of each term.  Do they have any common factors?  If so, use the distributive property in reverse: $ab + ac = a(b+c)$.  For example, if you had 

$$9x^2 + 3x$$both coefficients are divisible by 3, so we can take the 3 out and write$$3(3x^2+x)$$Now do the same for x$$3x(3x+1)$$and it is factored.  

In your case, you can only factor out something from the coefficients.

anonymous · Answer

12b^(2)+8y^(3)

Factor out the GCF of 4 from each term in the polynomial.
4(3b^(2))+4(2y^(3))

Factor out the GCF of 4 from 12b^(2)+8y^(3).
4(3b^(2)+2y^(3))