Question

How do you factor: `y= 10x^3 + 20x^2`?

Answer 1

`y = 10x^2(x + 2`) OR `y = (5x)(2x)(x + 2)`

Explanation:

First look for numbers and variables that can be divided out of both terms.

`y = 10x^3 + 20x^2`

Just from taking a look at the equation, we can tell that we can divide a `10` and `x^2` from both terms, and these are the highest values we can take out. Let's write this out:

`y = 10x^2(x + 2)`

And there you have it! This is the factored out form of the original equation.

Note that it is possible to take out more factors, for example:

`y = (5x)(2x)(x + 2)`

Both answers are fine.