BECE Mathematics 2026 Paper

Concept:To factorize, take out the greatest common factor (GCF) of all the terms and write what is left inside a bracket.Solution:Write each term as a product of its factors:$3a^{2}b = 3 \times a \times a \times b$$9ab^{2} = 3 \times 3 \times a \times b \times b$Factors common to both: $3$, one $a$ and one $b$, so GCF $= 3ab$.Divide each term by the GCF:$3a^{2}b \div 3ab = a$$9ab^{2} \div 3ab = 3b$So $3a^{2}b - 9ab^{2} = 3ab(a - 3b)$.Check by expanding: $3ab \times a - 3ab \times 3b = 3a^{2}b - 9ab^{2}$ ✓. Option C, $3ab(b - 3a)$, expands to $3ab^{2} - 9a^{2}b$, which is different.Answer:Option A ($3ab(a - 3b)$)