Factor the expression 5v - 15.

1. Identify the expression: The expression to be factored is $5v - 15$.
2. Find the greatest common factor (GCF): Look for the largest number or variable that divides into all terms of the expression. In this case, the terms are $5v$ and $-15$. The GCF of $5$ and $15$ is $5$. The variable $v$ is only present in the first term, so it is not a common factor.
3. Factor out the GCF: Divide each term in the expression by the GCF ($5$).
- For the first term: $5v \div 5 = v$
- For the second term: $-15 \div 5 = -3$
4. Write the factored expression: Place the GCF outside parentheses and the results of the division inside the parentheses. The factored expression is $5(v - 3)$.
5. Verify the answer (optional): Distribute the GCF back into the parentheses to check if you get the original expression. $5 \times v = 5v$ and $5 \times -3 = -15$. So, $5(v - 3) = 5v - 15$, which matches the original expression.