Find the Common Factor in 4y+4: Step-by-Step Expression Analysis

Factoring Expressions with Common Numerical Factors

The expression 4y+4 4y+4

We factored into basic terms:

4y+4 4\cdot y+4

What is the common factor of the terms?

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

The expression 4y+4 4y+4

We factored into basic terms:

4y+4 4\cdot y+4

What is the common factor of the terms?

2

Step-by-step solution

To find the common factor of the expression 4y+4 4y+4 , we need to factor each term. The expression can be rewritten as:

4y+41 4\cdot y + 4\cdot 1

The number 4 is common in both terms, as we can see: 4y+41 \orange4\cdot y + \orange4\cdot 1 .

Hence, the common factor is 4 4 .

3

Final Answer

4 4

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Look for numbers that divide evenly into all terms
  • Technique: Write each term as factor × variable: 4y+41 4 \cdot y + 4 \cdot 1
  • Check: Multiply common factor by remaining terms: 4(y+1)=4y+4 4(y + 1) = 4y + 4

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing common factor with entire term
    Don't think 4y 4y is the common factor = wrong answer! 4y 4y only appears in the first term, not both. Always find the number or variable that appears in every single term.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Break down the expression into basic terms:

\( 4x^2 + 6x \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why isn't 4y 4y the common factor?

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A common factor must appear in every term. Since 4y 4y only appears in the first term (4y 4y ) but not in the second term (4 4 ), it cannot be the common factor.

How do I know if a number is a common factor?

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Check if that number divides evenly into every term. For 4y+4 4y + 4 , the number 4 divides into 4y 4y (giving y y ) and into 4 4 (giving 1 1 ).

What if there's no common factor?

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Some expressions don't have common factors, like 3x+7 3x + 7 . But always check first! Look for numbers, variables, or both that appear in every term.

Can variables be common factors too?

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Yes! If every term contains the same variable, it's a common factor. For example, in 6x+9x 6x + 9x , both 3 and x are common factors, so you can factor out 3x 3x .

How do I check my factoring is correct?

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Distribute your answer! If you factor 4y+4 4y + 4 as 4(y+1) 4(y + 1) , multiply it out: 4×y+4×1=4y+4 4 \times y + 4 \times 1 = 4y + 4

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