Factoring

[smilyfacebkwrm]

Say I have something like ...

(bx-x)

when I factor the x out would it turn out to be

x(b-1)

or just

x(b)

Thanks!!

 

[Gene]

You need the -1. Check by multiplying the two choices and see if you qet what you started with.

 

[tkhunny]

Would it be easier if, rather than this

bx - x

You wrote it like this

bx - 1x

x(b-1)

It is a convention NOT to write coefficients that are one (1). They are still there. Don't let them get away.