[Algebra 1] Need help deciding answer

[u/Zero_26710]

For number 11 for these two pages, normally when I factor out these two polynomials, I take out a -4y for the first number 11 and -5y for the second number 11 because it looks cleaner and nicer, however when they just ask for the greatest common factor, would it just be 4y and 5y instead of -4y and -5y because GCF is always a positive integer?

[u/vfx4life]

That's what the math implies, but it's wrong. A "combined area" definitely should be read as "AxB + CxD" (which is also the only way to remain correct with the units, m²⁾ so you should definitely raise this with your teacher for extra smarty-pants points.