Question

Factor the polynomial. a^5b - a

Answer 1

a^5b -a
= a* (a^(5b-1) -1) (distributive property)

Now try backwards:
a* (a^(5b-1) -1)
= a* a^(5b-1) -a
= a^1* a^(5b-1) -a
= a^(5b-1+1) -a
= a^(5b) -a (correct).

The final answer is a* (a^(5b-1) -1)~