Question

factor 72x - 27y.
write your answer as a product with a whole number greater than 1.

Explanation:

Step1: Find the GCF of 72 and 27

The factors of 72 are \(1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72\). The factors of 27 are \(1, 3, 9, 27\). The greatest common factor (GCF) of 72 and 27 is 9.

Step2: Factor out the GCF

Using the distributive property \(ab - ac = a(b - c)\), where \(a = 9\), \(b = 8x\) (since \(72x\div9 = 8x\)), and \(c = 3y\) (since \(27y\div9 = 3y\)). So, \(72x - 27y = 9(8x - 3y)\).

Answer:

\(9(8x - 3y)\)