Example

Factoring 8y24-8y - 24

Factor 8y24-8y - 24 by extracting the greatest common factor, noting that the leading coefficient is negative.

Step 1 — Find the GCF: Ignoring the signs, find the GCF of 8y8y and 2424. Factor each into primes: 8y=222y8y = 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot y and 24=222324 = 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3. The common factors are three 22s, so the numerical GCF is 222=82 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 = 8. Because the expression has a negative leading coefficient, use 8-8 as the GCF.

Step 2 — Rewrite each term using the GCF: Express 8y=(8)y-8y = (-8) \cdot y and 24=(8)3-24 = (-8) \cdot 3, giving (8)y+(8)3(-8) \cdot y + (-8) \cdot 3.

Step 3 — Factor out the GCF: 8(y+3)-8(y + 3).

Step 4 — Check by multiplying: 8(y+3)=8y+(8)3=8y24-8(y + 3) = -8 \cdot y + (-8) \cdot 3 = -8y - 24 ✓.

The factored form is 8(y+3)-8(y + 3). Factoring out the negative GCF reverses the signs inside the parentheses — both terms that were originally negative appear as positive inside (y+3)(y + 3).

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Updated 2026-04-21

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