Question

question
factor the expression completely.
-30 - 21x

Explanation:

Step1: Find the GCF of -30 and -21x

The greatest common factor (GCF) of 30 and 21 is 3. Also, both terms have a negative sign, so we can factor out -3 (or 3, but factoring out -3 simplifies the signs inside the parentheses).
GCF of -30 and -21x is -3 (or 3, but let's use -3 for simpler signs).

Step2: Factor out the GCF

Factor out -3 from \(-30 - 21x\).
\(-30\div(-3) = 10\) and \(-21x\div(-3) = 7x\).
So, \(-30 - 21x = -3(10 + 7x)\). We can also factor out 3: \(3(-10 - 7x)\), but factoring out -3 gives a more "standard" form with a positive first term inside the parentheses.

Answer:

\(-3(10 + 7x)\) (or \(3(-10 - 7x)\), but \(-3(10 + 7x)\) is more common)