GCF for the group of terms
-42a^4, 7a^5
42a?
To find the greatest common factor (GCF) for the terms -42a^4 and 7a^5, we need to first look at the factors of the coefficients and the variable terms separately.
The coefficient of the first term, -42a^4, is -42, and the coefficient of the second term, 7a^5, is 7. The common factor of -42 and 7 is 7, since 7 divides both -42 and 7 evenly.
The variable term a^4 has a base of 'a' raised to the power of 4, and the variable term a^5 has a base of 'a' raised to the power of 5. The exponent on 'a' is the same in both terms. Therefore, 'a' raised to the power of 4 is a common factor.
Combining the common factors of the coefficients and the variable terms, we get the GCF of -42a^4 and 7a^5 as 7a^4.
So, the GCF for the group of terms -42a^4 and 7a^5 is 7a^4.