Question

How do you factor `p^3r^5-p^2r`?

Answer 1

`p^2r(pr^4 - 1)`

Explanation:

`p^3r^5 - p^2r` is the same as `p*p*p*r*r*r*r*r - p*p*r`.

To see what you can factor out, find what is common in both terms. Both terms have p and r, but the maximum number that they share can be factored out.

so `p^2` and `r` can be factored out.

when you remove two p's from the first term, there is one p left.
when you remove one r from the first term, there are four r's left.
when you remove two p's and one r from the second term, there is nothing left. However, you must put 1 there as a place holder (not 0, because when you distribute anything multiplied by 0 is 0).

So the answer is `p^2r(pr^4 - 1)`