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1.1 Factoring Out the GCF: Negative and Fractional Exponents

Worked Examples

Example 1. Factor out the term with the lesser power and write in factored form:  

The term with the lesser power is .

So,  

Divide each term by  

to obtain the other factor:

Multiply the two factors together:

 or  

Example 2. Factor out the term with the lesser power and write in factored form:  

The term with the lesser power is .

So,  

Divide each term by  

to obtain the other factor:

Multiply the two factors together:

 or  

Example 3. Factor out the term with the lesser power and write in factored form:  

The term with the lesser power is .

So,  

Divide each term by x to obtain the other factor:

Multiply the two factors together:

Example 4. Factor out the term with the lesser power and write in factored form:  

The term with the lesser power is .

So,  

Divide each term by  

to obtain the other factor:

Multiply the two factors together:

Example 5. Factor out the term with the lesser power and write in factored form:  

The term with the lesser power is .

So,  

Divide each term by  

to obtain the other factor:

Multiply the two factors together:

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