College

Factor the GCF from the polynomial:

[tex]\[ 7x^6 - 28x^4 \][/tex]

A. [tex]\( x^6(7x^2 - 28) \)[/tex]

B. [tex]\( 7x^4(x^2 - 4) \)[/tex]

C. [tex]\( 7x^5(x - 4x) \)[/tex]

D. [tex]\( 7(x^6 - 4x^4) \)[/tex]

Answer :

To factor the greatest common factor (GCF) from the polynomial [tex]\(7x^6 - 28x^4\)[/tex], follow these steps:

1. Identify the GCF of the coefficients:
- The coefficients are 7 and 28. The GCF of 7 and 28 is 7 because 7 is the largest number that divides both 7 and 28 without leaving a remainder.

2. Identify the GCF for the variable terms:
- The polynomial terms are [tex]\(x^6\)[/tex] and [tex]\(x^4\)[/tex]. The GCF of [tex]\(x^6\)[/tex] and [tex]\(x^4\)[/tex] is [tex]\(x^4\)[/tex]. This is because [tex]\(x^4\)[/tex] is the highest power of [tex]\(x\)[/tex] that can be factored out from both terms.

3. Combine the GCF of coefficients and variables:
- The overall GCF of the polynomial [tex]\(7x^6 - 28x^4\)[/tex] is [tex]\(7x^4\)[/tex].

4. Factor out the GCF from each term:
- When you factor [tex]\(7x^4\)[/tex] out of the first term [tex]\(7x^6\)[/tex], you get [tex]\(x^2\)[/tex] because [tex]\(7x^6 \div 7x^4 = x^2\)[/tex].
- When you factor [tex]\(7x^4\)[/tex] out of the second term [tex]\(-28x^4\)[/tex], you get [tex]\(-4\)[/tex] because [tex]\(-28x^4 \div 7x^4 = -4\)[/tex].

5. Write the factored expression:
- After factoring out [tex]\(7x^4\)[/tex], the polynomial becomes [tex]\(7x^4(x^2 - 4)\)[/tex].

Thus, the correct factored form of the polynomial [tex]\(7x^6 - 28x^4\)[/tex] is [tex]\(7x^4(x^2 - 4)\)[/tex].