Find the greatest common factor of these two expressions

Question

Find the greatest common factor of these two expressions

18v^7 u^6 and 27v^2 x^8 u^5

Answer 1

18v⁷u⁶ can be factored as 3² x  2 x v⁷ x u⁶

 

27v²x⁸u⁵ can be factored as 3³ x v² x x⁸  x u⁵

 

Rmember that when you divide exponents you subtract one from the other.

 

Now we can see what they have in common: 3², v², and u⁵.  

 

The greatest common factor is 9v²u⁵.