could someone help me find out what the GCF is when it comes to exponents?

Question

Factor the following by taking out the greatest common factor.

8x³ +12x² +16x

 

i know the common factor is 4. but how do i know for exponents? I'm watching video examples on my homework and there not showing how they come up with the common factor for exponents. i feel like once i figure that part out i will know how to do math problems

Answer 1

Only one x is common to each term:

8x²(x) + 12x(x) + 16(x)

So the common the greatest common factor, GCF, is 4x.