factor the following equation -30a - 100

Question

factor the following equation

-30 a - 100 what is the answer

 

Answer 1

-30 a - 100=

 

 Greatest common factor of terms -30a , 100 is 10

 

   - 30a - 100 = 10 ( 3a - 10)  ( 1)

 

    Factoring is opposite    of the distributive  law

 

      Equation (1) , going  from left to right using distributive law, result in a statement of the right side . 

Answer 2

Factor each term separately down to prime numbers:

 

-30a = -1*2*3*5*a

 

-100 = -1*2*2*5*5

 

The factors they have in common are shown in orange - so factor them out.  The factors in black are what's left of the 30a and 100 after you remove the common factors:

 

-30-100 = (-1*2*3*5*a) + (-1*2*2*5*5)

 

= (-1*2*5)(3*a + 2*5) = (-10)(3a+10)

 

BTW, -30a-100 is an algebraic expression, not an equation.  An equation always has an equal sign (=).