Question

Factor the following expressions using more than one method, if necesssary
a)w^2-16w
b)w^3-16w
c)w^5-16w
d)2w^2-16w-40

Answer 1

So like factorizing each of these?

Answer 2

first find the GCF (greatest common factor) of the equation you want to factor

Answer 3

@DelTaVsPi yes factoring each one

Answer 4

@trantom for part a i used the difference of squares method and got (w-4)(w+4)

Answer 5

no that would be if it was w^2-16
it's w^2-16w

Answer 6

all you do for these problems (except d) is take out the GCF of "w"

Answer 7

so for a.) it would be w(w-16)

Answer 8

@trantom what about the other questions ?

Answer 9

well why don't you b.)

Answer 10

would part b and c be GCF also?

Answer 11

mhm

Answer 12

remember the GCF is the largest value or expression that divides into all the terms in an expression or set of numbers, so for b) and c) it is "w"

Answer 13

and for part d, the GCF would be 2, right?

Answer 14

are there any other methods that would work besides GCF?

Answer 15

for all of them except d

Answer 16

you still want to find a gcf for d though

Answer 17

what did you get as your GCF for d?

Answer 18

2

Answer 19

well actually... 2(w^2-8w-20)

Answer 20

ok good except you then need to factor w^2-8w-20

Answer 21

then i tried to find two numbers that multiply to -20 and add up to -8

Answer 22

good!

Answer 23

i got -10 and 2

Answer 24

yep thats right!
so what's your final answer?

Answer 25

@trantom 2(w-10)(w+2)

Answer 26

fantastique!

Answer 27

you have successfully factored