How would you rewrite the expression 18x^3y^4 + 12x^5y^2 by factoring out the GCF?
A. 6x^5y^4 (3y^2 + 2x^2)
B. 6x^3y^2 (3y^2 + 2x^2)
C. 6x^3y^2 (3xy^2 + 2x^2y)
D. 3x^3y^2 (6y^2 + 4x^2)
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 18x^3y^4 and 12x^5y^2 is 6x^3y^2.
Factor out 6x^3y^2 from both terms:
18x^3y^4 = 6x^3y^2(3y^2)
12x^5y^2 = 6x^3y^2(2x^2)
Therefore, rewriting the expression 18x^3y^4 + 12x^5y^2 by factoring out the GCF gives us: 6x^3y^2(3y^2 + 2x^2), which is option B.
So, the correct answer is:
B. 6x^3y^2 (3y^2 + 2x^2)