## Factoring and Dividing: 5x^2y - 10xy / 5xy, 6ab - 3a^2b^2/

Quadratic equations and inequalities, variation equations, function notation, systems of equations, etc.

### Factoring and Dividing: 5x^2y - 10xy / 5xy, 6ab - 3a^2b^2/

Hi. New here and hope I am in the right section. I have gone back to college, and right now in Basic Skills to pass the algebra accuplacer. Passed everything else. Haven't done algebra much in my life at all.

We are off for a week and the only book allowed to bring home is really not a good one. I've learned a lot, but right now I'm at factoring and dividing which I am having some problems with. I'll write out a few as examples.

I can do factoring I'm just not clicking with this part for some reason. Any help would be great. Thanks ahead of time.

I'll write out complete instructions.

Factoring is often used to simplify a quotient of algebraic expressions. If a single term or an expression of 2 or more terms is a factor in both top and bottom expressions, that term or expression divides and cancels out.

Simplify each quotient by dividing out the common factor.

5x^2y - 10xy =
___________
5xy

Here is another one.

6ab - 3a^2b^2
____________
3ab

One more.

x^2 + xy
________
x + y
JohnB.

Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:12 am

### Re: Factoring and Dividing

JohnB. wrote:...
5x^2y - 10xy =
___________
5xy

Here is another one.

6ab - 3a^2b^2
____________
3ab

One more.

x^2 + xy
________
x + y

for the first one the numerator has a common factor of 5xy...

$\frac{5x^2y - 10xy}{5xy}=\frac{5xy(x-2)}{5xy}=\frac{\cancel{5xy}(x-2)}{\cancel{5xy}}=x-2$

Martingale

Posts: 350
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:30 pm
Location: USA

It looks like you're expected to know how to do simple factorizations (as opposed to the more-complicated sorts). To learn, try here.

stapel_eliz

Posts: 1705
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:22 pm

### Re: Factoring and Dividing

Thanks to you both for replying, help and the link. I appreciate it.
JohnB.

Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:12 am