Factor out the greatest common factor. Assume that variables used as exponents represent positive integers.

Question

4x^7a-12x^5a+8x^4a

Answer 1

4x^4a

4 is the GCF of 4, -12 and 8

-12 = 4(3), 8 = 4(2)

x^4a is the GCF of x^7a, x^5a and x^4a

x^7a = x^4a(x^3a)

x^5a = x^4a(x^a)