To factor the expression [tex]\(6x - 18\)[/tex] completely, follow these detailed steps:
1. Identify the common factor:
First, look at the coefficients and constant term in the expression [tex]\(6x - 18\)[/tex]. Notice that both 6 and 18 have a common factor which is 6.
2. Factor out the common factor:
Extract the common factor of 6 from each term in the expression.
[tex]\[
6x - 18 = 6(x) - 6(3)
\][/tex]
3. Simplify the expression:
By factoring out the 6, we get:
[tex]\[
6(x - 3)
\][/tex]
So the expression [tex]\(6x - 18\)[/tex] factors completely to [tex]\(6(x - 3)\)[/tex].
Therefore, the correct factored form of [tex]\(6x - 18\)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[
6(x - 3)
\][/tex]
