To factor the expression − 3 r − 15 , we extract -3, yielding − 3 ( r + 5 ) . The values to note are ? = -3 and [] = 5. The final factored form is − 3 ( r + 5 ) .
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Factor out -3 from the expression: − 3 r − 15 = − 3 ( r + 5 ) .
Identify the values for the factored form [ ?] ( r + [ ]) : ? = -3 and [] = 5.
Therefore, the factored expression is − 3 ( r + 5 ) .
The final answer is − 3 ( r + 5 ) .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to factor the expression − 3 r − 15 by factoring out a negative number. The factored form should be in the format [ ?] ( r + [ ]) .
Factoring the Expression We can factor out − 3 from the expression − 3 r − 15 . This gives us − 3 ( r + 5 ) .
Identifying the Values Comparing − 3 ( r + 5 ) with the desired form [ ?] ( r + [ ]) , we can identify the values to be placed in the brackets. The value outside the parenthesis is − 3 and the value inside the parenthesis is 5 .
Examples
Factoring expressions is a fundamental skill in algebra and is used in many real-world applications. For example, if you are designing a rectangular garden with an area that can be expressed as − 3 r − 15 , you might want to factor this expression to determine possible dimensions of the garden. Factoring helps simplify complex expressions and makes it easier to analyze and solve related problems.