How do you factor $xy-7x+7y-49$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-01T03:07:37

$(x+7)(y-7)$

Given: $xy - 7x + 7y - 49$

Use group factoring. Group the first and third terms and the second and fourth terms:

$(xy + 7y) + (-7x - 49)$

Factor the greatest common factor (GCF) of each group:

$y (x + 7) - 7(x + 7)$

Notice that both contain the factor $x + 7$ . This is the GCF of both groups:

$(x + 7)( y - 7)$

How do you factor xy-7x+7y-49xy-7x+7y-49?