Question

Factoring Using the Distributive Property
5a^2-15
Show your steps to find the GCF
MEDAL REWARDED!!

Answer 1

@satellite73

Answer 2

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 3

what do 5 and 15 have in common?

Answer 4

in terms of factors

Answer 5

5

Answer 6

so factor out the GCF to get ???

Answer 7

5a^2 - 15 = 5( .... )

what goes in the parenthesis?

Answer 8

5?
I don't know

Answer 9

I just learned this today

Answer 10

factor 15 into 2 numbers where 5 is one factor

Answer 11

In class

Answer 12

15 = 5*____

Answer 13

3

Answer 14

15 = 5*3, good

Answer 15

so

5a^2 - 15

5a^2 - 5*3

5(a^2 - 3)

Answer 16

for that last step, I'm using the distributive property

a*(b+c) = a*b + a*c

Answer 17

Thanks!

Answer 18

So this is the answer right?
5(a^2 - 3)

Answer 19

Notice as a check, we can distribute that 5 back through to get

5(a^2 - 3)

5(a^2) + 5(-3)

5a^2 - 15

which is the original expression. So the answer is confirmed

Answer 20

Yes, it's 5(a^2 - 3)

Answer 21

Ok, thanks so much!

Answer 22

sure thing