Consider the polynomial [tex] 4x^5 - 20x^4 - 36x^3. [/tex] It has three terms and their greatest common factor is [tex] 4x^3. [/tex]
Since
[tex] 4x^5=4x^3\cdot x^2,\\20x^4=4x^3\cdot 5x,\\36x^3=4x^3\cdot 9, [/tex]
then
[tex] 4x^5 - 20x^4 - 36x^3=4x^3(x^2-5x-9)[/tex] (you write in brackets the same sign as the corresponding term has).
Answer: correct choice is D.