alan is trying to find the greatest monomial factor of 12x3 y5 z + 18x4 y4z3. he decides to use the method shown.
question:

a) is there an easier way to find the gcf of a polynomial? if so, what is it? do you get the same answer?
b) if one of the terms of the polynomial contains a variable that no other term contains, should you include it as a common factor? why or why not?
c) if you take the common factor out of 12x3 y5 z + 18x4 y4z3,what are you left with?