Question

What is the GCF (Greatest Common Factor) of 3x^4 and 9x^2?

Answer 1

Separate into the GCF of 3 and 9, and the GCF of x^4 and x^2.

Answer 2

I don't understand

Answer 3

Look at GCF(3,9).
Factors of 3: 1 and 3
Factors of 9: 1, 3 and 9.
Common factors of 3 and 9: 1 and 3.
Greatest Common Factor of 3 and 9: 3.

Look at GCF(x^2, x^4)

Factors of x^2: 1, x and x^2
Factors of x^4: 1, x, x^2, x^3 and x^4.
Common factors of x^2 and x^4: 1, x and x^2.
Greatest Common Factor of x^2 and x^4: x^2

GCF(3x^4, 9x^2) = 3x^2