how to find the GCF for this math problem?

Question

6y^2+20y-50

Answer 1

The GCF is the greatest common factor that we can take out of each of the three terms in this trinomial.  First, we look at our coefficients (6, 20, 50) and think about the GCF of those numbers.  The GCF of 6, 20, and 50 is 2.  Now, we factor 2 out of each term and rewrite our resulting trinomial:

 

2(3y² + 10y - 25)

 

We cannot factor out a y because only the first two terms contain a y.  In order for us to factor out a y, we would have to have a y in all three terms of the trinomial.