Chapter 7.5, Problem 20GP

To determine

Find the factor of the expression $50x-300$

Answer to Problem 20GP

  $50x-300=50(x-6)$

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The area of a high school basketball court is $50x-300$ square feet. Factor $50x-300$ to find possible dimensions of the basketball court.

Concept Used:

To find the factor of the expression:

Step 1: find the GCF of the expression and take out the GCF from each term of the expression and write in factor form.

Example: The expression $ab+ac$ , $a$ is the GCF of the expression. Take out the GCF and write in factor form: $ab+ac=a·b+a·c=a(b+c)$

Calculation:

Find the factor of the expression: $50x-300$

  $50x-300=2·5·5·x-3·2·2·5·5=50(x-6)[\text{GCF}=50]$

Possible dimensions of the basketball court is 50 feet and (x − 6) feet.

Thus, $50x-300=50(x-6)$