How do you factorise $5n - 2a n - 5m + 2a m$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-21T17:50:03

$=(n-m)(5-2a)$

There are 4 terms - group the terms in pairs, making sure there is a $+$ sign between the pairs:

$(5n-5m)+(-2an+2am)" "larr$ take out common factors:

$=5(n-m)color(magenta)(-2)a(n-m)" "larr$ note the change of signs.

$=(n-m)(5-2a)$

How do you factorise 5n - 2a n - 5m + 2a m5n - 2a n - 5m + 2a m?