IXL | Factor variable expressions using the distributive property

Factor

Write your answer as a product with a whole number greater than 1.

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question

Factor

Write your answer as a product with a whole number greater than 1.

key idea

To factor an expression, write it as a product.

solution

To factor

write it as a product.

Find a whole number greater than 1 that is a common factor of all the numbers in the expression: 4 and 20. If there is more than one common factor, it is good practice to choose the largest one.

Factors of 4: 1, 2, 4
Factors of 20: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20

Since 4 is a common factor of 4 and 20, these numbers are both divisible by 4.

Factor 4 out of

Factor 4 out of each term

Apply the distributive property

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Apply the distributive property

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Factoring expressions

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

Z.7Factor variable expressions: area models

Z.5Multiply using the distributive property

F.6Greatest common factor

Y.9Sort factors of variable expressions

F.7Greatest common factor of three or four numbers

Z.6Factor numerical expressions using the distributive property

Lesson: Factoring expressions

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