Solution:
1. Identify the numbers in the expression: 39 and 13.
2. Determine the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numbers:
- The factors of 39 are: 1, 3, 13, 39
- The factors of 13 are: 1, 13
- The common factors are: 1, 13
- Therefore, the greatest common factor is 13.
3. Factor the expression by dividing each term by the GCF:
- 39 - 13 = 13 \times 3 - 13 \times 1
- Factor out the GCF 13: 13(3 - 1)
4. Simplify the expression inside the parentheses:
- 3 - 1 = 2
- Therefore, the factored expression is: 13 \times 2
5. Simplified result:
- 13 \times 2 = 26
Thus, the expression 39 - 13 factors to 13(2) or simplifies to 26.