Factor the following expression 18u^3v^2x^6−12u^7v^8

Question

anonymous · Answer

Oops  - it should be 3u^9v^4w^3+15u^2v^5

myininaya · Answer

Hi.
@Juliette2120 do you know the greatest common factor of 18 and 12?

myininaya · Answer

oh sorry didn't see the new problem.

myininaya · Answer

Do you know the greatest common factor of 3 and 15?

myininaya · Answer

if I write 
15 as 3(5)
and you compare 3 to 3(5)
can you tell me the factors that 3 and 3(5) have in common?

anonymous · Answer

3 is the greatest common factor

myininaya · Answer

yes now let's look at the u's of each term
$$3u^9v^4w^3+15u^2v^5\ 3(u^9v^4w^3+5u^2v^5)$$
so this is what we have now
but we can factor out more than just what we factored out

myininaya · Answer

now looking at the u part...
we have u^9 and u^2

myininaya · Answer

$$u^9=u^2 \cdot u^7$$
what factors does $$u^2 \cdot u^7 \text{ and } u^2 \text{ have in common }$$

myininaya · Answer

let me know if you are having trouble?

anonymous · Answer

Sorry! OS won't seem to let me post my replies!

myininaya · Answer

I guess it let's you reply after refreshing the page ? Or do you have to completely leave and come back to post a reply?
I'm on google chrome and haven o problems. Maybe you can try that internet browser.

anonymous · Answer

I think I was able to figure this out. Thank you very much for your help! Just the simplification sent me in the right direction.

myininaya · Answer

No problem.

myininaya · Answer

But we still needed to factor out a few more things.