Factoring Out a GCF – Solve and Match Worksheet

Product description

From the author

This Solve & Match worksheet allows students to practice factoring out a greatest common factor (GCF) from an algebraic expression. There are eighteen problems in total. Some expressions have multiple variables, some expressions just use one variable. Once students factor out the GCF, they need to find the resulting factor in the answer bank and match the answer letter with the problem number.

Solve & Match worksheets help students build confidence in their skills when they are able to find their answer in the answer bank! It also alleviates students constantly asking the teacher if their answer is correct. Each answer in the answer bank will only be used once!

This worksheet is suitable for students who are just learning how to factor out a GCF. It works great as an in-class assignment or as a homework assignment!

Access To Resource:

Printable PDF practice is supplied. The optional Google Slides version uses Google accounts for classroom copies. When you open up the file you will click on the link which will prompt you to create a copy. The copy will then be saved to your Google Drive and you can assign the activity accordingly to your students.

Other Skills Offered As Solve & Match Worksheets:

-Calculating Slope

-Exponential Equations with a Common Base

-Exponential Equations without a Common Base

-Factoring by Grouping

-Factoring Out a GCF

-Factoring Polynomials

-Factoring Trinomials (a is greater than 1)

-Factoring Trinomials (a is equal to 1)

-Laws of Exponents (Positive and Negative)

-Laws of Exponents (Positive Only)

-Solving Logarithmic Equations

-Solving Polynomial Equations

-Solving Quadratic Equations

-Solving Radical Equations

-Solving Rational Equations

-Simplifying Expressions

-Solving Linear Equations

-Solving Two-Step Equations

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Identify the greatest numerical factor shared by every term of a polynomial
Identify the lowest power of each variable present in all terms and include it in the common factor
Use the one-letter-per-problem constraint to check a block of nine before handing it in

Teaching tips

Ask students to multiply their factored expression back out when checking a match.

Skills covered

Factoring out a numerical GCF — problems such as 10x + 2 and 18x − 15 ask for the number common to both terms before any variable work begins.
Factoring out a variable GCF — 2x² + 7x, 3x³ − 4x² and 4x³ + x require the lowest power of x present in every term to come out with it.
Combining numerical and variable factors — 18x² + 4x, 8x³ − 12x² + 4x and 10x⁴ − 8x³ + 6x² need a coefficient and a power of x taken together.

Good to know