Question

Okay, this is when I really feel perplexed.
May someone please help explain this?

–24m^2n^6 – 8mn^5 – 32n^4

Answer 1

This is how far I've gotten, -8n(3m^2n^5 + mn^4 + 4n^3)

Answer 2

You can factor out more than 1 n

Answer 3

-8n^2(3m^2n^4 + mn^3 + 4n^2)

Answer 4

And now with this I knew to make them positive because the negative coefficient will make them negative again in the end result.

Answer 5

What is the largest number of n's you can factor out?

Answer 6

it should be n^3... correct?

Answer 7

I was hesitant to say four because of that last number. If I factor out 4, then the end result may make that -32n^4 to -32n^5, right?

Answer 8

$$–24m^2n^6 – 8mn^5 – 32n^4$$ $$=-8n^4(3m^2n^2+mn+4)$$

Answer 9

If you factor out a \(n^4\) out of the last term, the n disappears from that term. but the coefficient does not.

Answer 10

I gotcha.
And thank you @skullpatrol, it helped to look at it while @gypsy1274 is explaining.

Answer 11

Ok, taking this, −8n^4 (3m^2n^2 + mn + 4)

To break it down further

Am I correct with -8n^4(3mn + 3) (mn + 1)?

Answer 12

If you FOIL (3mn+3)(mn+1) will you get \(3m^2n^2+mn+4\)? I don't think so....

Answer 13

The only factors of 3 are 3 and 1 so start with that.
(3mn )(mn )
Now find the factors of 4 that will work. It will take a bit of trial and error.

Answer 14

So aside from 4 and 1 I have 2

Answer 15

Use the 4 and 1 see of you can find the correct placement and sign to factor.

Answer 16

I understand -4 and -1 gives a positive 4 when multiplied but in regard to addition I realize tht I'm still wrong

Answer 17

when I tried to multiply -2 and -2 I still got positive 4 but then to get -mn I am simply stuck

Answer 18

I think you just pointed out my mistake....verifying...

Answer 19

Oohhh, Noooo! Time to call in reinforcements....
@skullpatrol What am I doing wrong? @uri
How does \(-8n^4(3m^2n^2+mn+4)\) factor?

Answer 20

I started with \(-8n^4(3mn+4)(mn-1)\) but that doesn't work.

Answer 21

–24m^2n^6 – 8mn^5 – 32n^4
-8n^4(3m^2n^2+ mn+4)

You are correct till here.

Answer 22

Yes, but does the remaining trinomial factor?

Answer 23

It ends here.

Answer 24

@gypsy1274, @skullpatrol, @uri
Thanks for your help

Answer 25

Thanks for trying to learn.