Example

Finding the GCF of 21x321x^3, 9x29x^2, and 15x15x

To find the greatest common factor of 21x321x^3, 9x29x^2, and 15x15x, apply the prime factorization method to each coefficient and expand each variable.

Step 1 β€” Factor coefficients and expand variables: Write 21x3=3β‹…7β‹…xβ‹…xβ‹…x21x^3 = 3 \cdot 7 \cdot x \cdot x \cdot x, 9x2=3β‹…3β‹…xβ‹…x9x^2 = 3 \cdot 3 \cdot x \cdot x, and 15x=3β‹…5β‹…x15x = 3 \cdot 5 \cdot x.

Step 2 β€” Align factors in columns and circle the common ones: The shared factors are one 33 and one xx across all three expressions.

Step 3 β€” Bring down the common factors: Collect 3β‹…x3 \cdot x.

Step 4 β€” Multiply: The product is 3x3x.

The GCF of 21x321x^3, 9x29x^2, and 15x15x is 3x3x.

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Updated 2026-04-29

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