How do you factor # 12a^2 - 24a^3#?

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2016

#12a^2(1-2a)#

Explanation:

Let's take out common factors. First, we need to list out the factors.

#12a^2 = 12timesatimesa#

#24a^3= 24timesatimesatimesa#

Let look at what we can take out. Well #12# is a factor of both #12# and #24#, so let's pull out a #12#. We also see that both terms have at least two #a#s, so let's pull out two #a#s.

#12a^2(1-2a)# or #12(a)(a)(1-2a)#