Factoring Out Expressions
In factoring out the greatest common factor as an expression, we would do the same thing as if we had some regular terms there. So, our terms are simply just 5 times x minus 3 and y times x minus 3. So if we were to find the GCF, we know that we just have 5 times x minus 3 and y times x minus 3. Notice, that we have the x minus 3 in common. So our GCF is x minus 3. Remember, what we are going to do is place that ahead of everything else out in front. We've got x minus 3 and then (remember we are going to draw parenthesis) and whatever is in the parenthesis is what's left over from all this. So the left over bit is actually the 5 and the y. So this is actually fully factored. If you want, you can always switch the y and the 5 around. It doesn't matter. It doesn't mean that it changes anything, it just changes the way it looks. So, either answer would be correct.