GCF of x^3 and x^4?
Apparently, it isn't x and I can't understand how it could be anything else.
The answers are:
x
x^2
x^3
x^4

but it said that x wasn't right. But two can't go into three, and three doesn't go into 4, so how is it even possible to have another answer?

Question

GCF of x^3 and x^4?
Apparently, it isn't x and I can't understand how it could be anything else.
The answers are:
x
x^2
x^3
x^4

but it said that x wasn't right. But two can't go into three, and three doesn't go into 4, so how is it even possible to have another answer?

anonymous · Answer

ok so you have x^3 and x^4

just imagine you have (x^3+x^4)

what can you pull out of the sum

well if you pull out an x then you have this:
x(x^2+x^3)

however, you can continue pulling out x's.  try pulling out more x's till one of the x's becomes a 1.  this means you have reached your GCF.  if you have trouble with it just let me know.

anonymous · Answer

I just wrote it down. If I pulled them both, would that make 2x?

anonymous · Answer

Or x^2 I mean.

anonymous · Answer

ok, so you have (x^3+x^4) to start with.

// pull out an x to start with
x(x^2+x^3)

// pull out another x
x*x(x+x^2)

// pull out another x
x*x*x(1+x)

// combine the three x's on the left.  this is what i meant by simplifying until you get a 1.  also, x^3 turns out to be your GCF.  it is a factor of both x^3 and x^4
x^3(1+x)

anonymous · Answer

Oh, now I get it! Sorry, I was confused at first - no one had explained it to me like that before! Thank you so much for your help!

anonymous · Answer

yw