Question

I do not know how to work this problem out. Can u help me? 8a^2-2a= note my book is working on polynomials

Answer 1

Are you factoring?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

So can you help me ?

Answer 4

First step is to take out the largest common factor.

Answer 5

is it 2?

Answer 6

What is the largest common factor of 8a^2 and -2a?
2 is good for the number part, but there is something you can take out of a^2 and a also

Answer 7

i do not know?

Answer 8

a^2 and a have a in common, so 8a^2 and -2a have 2a in common. That is the largest factor you can factor out of both terms.

Answer 9

4 can not go into 2 so I would think 2 would be the answer

Answer 10

o okay

Answer 11

So would 2a(4a-1a) the answer?

Answer 12

Yes, 2 is correct for the number part, but for the variable part, there is an a that can come out.
Think of 8a^2 - 2a as 2*2*2*a*a - 2*a
There are three 2's and two a's in the first term. There is one 2 and one a in the right term. How many 2's and a's do both terms have.

Answer 13

Be careful here.
2a(4a) = 8a^2. That is correct.
But 2a(-1a) = -2a^2. That is incorrect bec the original expression has only -2a and not -2a^2.
2a(4a - 1) = 2a(4a) - 2a(1) = 8a^2 - 2 which is what you started with.

Answer 14

so would it be 2a(4a-1)

Answer 15

So would it be that?

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

thank you so much

Answer 18

wlcm
Keep in mind that you can check if you factored correctly. Just multiply out the terms you got. If it's it's correct, you'll get back the polynomial you started with.