# Factoring by common factor review

The expression 6m+15 can be factored into 3(2m+5) using the distributive property. More complex expressions like 44k^5-66k^4 can be factored in much the same way. This article provides a couple of examples and gives you a chance to try it yourself.

### Example 1

Faktor.
$6m+15$
Both terms share a common factor of $\goldD{3}$, so we factor out the $\goldD{3}$ using the distributive property:
\begin{aligned} &6m+15\\\\ =&\goldD{3}(2m+5) \end{aligned}
Want a more in-depth explanation? Check out this video.

### Example 2

Factor out the greatest common monomial.
$44k^5-66k^4+77k^3$
The coefficients are $44,66,$ and $77$, and their greatest common factor is $\blueD{11}$.
The variables are $k^5, k^4,$ and $k^3$, and their greatest common factor is $\blueD{k^3}$.
Therefore, the greatest common monomial factor is $\blueD{11k^3}$.
Factoring, we get:
\begin{aligned} &44k^5-66k^4+77k^3\\\\ =&\blueD{11k^3}(4k^2)+\blueD{11k^3}(-6k)+\blueD{11k^3}(7)\\\\ =&\blueD{11k^3}(4k^2-6k+7) \end{aligned}
Want another example like this one? Check out this video.

## Practice

Want more practice? Check out this exercise.