How do you factor 2x^2 - 40x2x240x?

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2016

2x(x-20)2x(x20)

Explanation:

Remember that factoring means to "take out" a common factor from each term, namely one from 2x^22x2 and one from 40x40x.

It happens to be the case that both, 2x^22x2 and 40x40x are divisible by 22, and both share an xx, which means that we can take out a 22 as well as an xx, giving us

2x^2 - 40x -> 2x(x-20)2x240x2x(x20)