We've already learnt that, in algebra, we use variables to represent unknown values. A run down of of the basic components of an algebraic expression can be found here.
Once we understand all these components, we can use them to write more complex relationships between different variables, though there is one more we need to introduce first.
Factors of Expressions
We've worked with the highest numeric and algebraic common factors of expressions previously, but now we want to consider all possible factors, not just the highest.
We can break an expression down into a product of smaller parts. If these parts happen to be integers or algebraic expressions, we call them factors. For example, consider the following expressions:
$2x$2x
- In how many ways can we break this expression down? There are two unique ways to write this as a product of integers and algebraic terms: $1\times2x$1×2x and $2\times x$2×x. This means our factors are $1$1, $2x$2x, $2$2 and $x$x.
$16x$16x
- There are in fact five distinct ways to write this as a product. $1\times16x$1×16x, $2\times8x$2×8x,$4\times4x$4×4x, $16\times x$16×x, and $8\times2x$8×2x. So we have ten factors: $1$1, $2$2, $4$4, $8$8, $16$16, $x$x, $2x$2x, $4x$4x, $8x$8x and $16x$16x.
$3\left(x+3\right)$3(x+3)
- There are two different ways to write this as a product. $1\times3\left(x+3\right)$1×3(x+3) and $3\times\left(x+3\right)$3×(x+3). So our factors are $1$1, $3$3, $x+3$x+3 and $3\left(x+3\right)$3(x+3).
$2x+2$2x+2
- There are also two ways to write this as a product. $1\times\left(2x+2\right)$1×(2x+2) and $2\times\left(x+1\right)$2×(x+1). So our factors are $1$1, $2$2, $x+1$x+1 and $2x+2$2x+2.
Notice that $1$1 and the expression itself are always factors.
Now let's look at some more examples to further explore the structure of expressions.
Examples
Question 1
How do $4x^4$4x4 and $6x^2$6x2 relate to the expression $4x^4+6x^2$4x4+6x2? Choose the correct answer from the options below.
$4x^4$4x4 and $6x^2$6x2 are factors of $4x^4+6x^2$4x4+6x2.
A$4x^4$4x4 and $6x^2$6x2 are terms of $4x^4+6x^2$4x4+6x2.
B$4x^4$4x4 and $6x^2$6x2 are coefficients of $4x^4+6x^2$4x4+6x2.
C$4x^4$4x4 and $6x^2$6x2 are multiples of $4x^4+6x^2$4x4+6x2.
D
Question 2
What is the greatest common factor of the following expression?
$4x+12$4x+12
Question 3
Consider the expression $9\left(x+2\right)^2$9(x+2)2.
Which four options are factors of this expression?
$x$x
A$9$9
B$9\left(x+2\right)^2$9(x+2)2
C$2$2
D$x+2$x+2
E$\left(x+2\right)^2$(x+2)2
F