Factor this problem and should steps

Question

a4b + a2b3

Answer 1

If the exponents are small and you are just learning (or are having trouble), it is o.k. to expand the expression so you can find the solution.

     a⁴b + a²b³

     aaaab + aabbb                 (now, what is shared and can be factored out?)

     (aab)(aa) + (aab)(bb)          (o.k., put it back into exponent form)

      a²b(a²+b²)

Answer 2

Lorrie,

 

I guess it would have helped if I had read your problem correctly. Sorry.

 

In a⁴b + a²b³ both terms contain a², a²(a²b+b³) is equivalent to the original.

Since both terms of (a²b+b³) contain b, a²b(a²+b²) is also equivalent to the original.

 

This made more sense after I saw the correct interpretation of the problem.

Answer 3

a⁴b + a²b³

 

= a²a²b + a²bb²

 

The factors common to both terms are a² and b, so factor them out.  What's left goes in the parentheses:

 

= a²b(a²+b²)