(Greatest Common Factor)

Step 1. For each term find the gcf, the greatest common factor. This means to find the largest number that "goes into" each term. (If the first term of the given expression is negative, make the gcf negative.)

Step 2. Set up the next step of the problem using the gcf and a set of parentheses like so.

gcf(........................)

Step 3. Divide each term of the given expression by the gcf to compute the terms that will go in the parentheses above.

Step 4. Write the answer as product of the gcf and the terms you computed in step 3.

Examples Done by Mr. Vizza

Directions: Please factor the expression below using undistribution.

Step 1.

What is the largest number that goes into 15, -3, & 21?	3
What is the largest number that goes into x, x², & x³?	x
What is the largest number that goes into y⁸, y⁶ & y⁴?	y⁴
GCF	3xy⁴

Step 2.

Step 3.

, ,

Step 4.

Problems You Should Try

Directions: Please factor the expressions below using undistribution (GCF). If the expression cannot be factored, please indicate so by stating, "prime".

Additional Supportive Links

Help from California State University NorthRidge

Help from Mesa Community College

Help from Triton College