1. **State the problem:** Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from the polynomial $9x + 18$. 2. **Identify the GCF:** The terms are $9x$ and $18$. The GCF of $9$ and $18$ is $9$. 3. **Write the polynomial as a product of the GCF and another polynomial:** $$9x + 18 = 9(\frac{9x}{9} + \frac{18}{9})$$ 4. **Simplify inside the parentheses:** $$9(\cancel{9}x/\cancel{9} + \cancel{18}/\cancel{9}) = 9(x + 2)$$ 5. **Final factored form:** $$9(x + 2)$$ This means the polynomial $9x + 18$ factors to $9(x + 2)$ by taking out the greatest common factor $9$.