Question

How do you factor 3x^2 - 2x + 12xy - 8y?

Answer 1

$3x ^{2} - 2x + 12xy - 8y$

Now, grouping this in pairs of two , we have:-

$(3x^{2} - 2x) + (12xy - 8y)$

Now, we have only x as the common factor of 3x^2 and -2x.

And 4y as the highest common factor of 12xy and -8y

So , taking x as common and 4y as common in the second group , we are left with:-

$x(3x - 2) + 4y(3x - 2)$

Thus, we have:

$(x + 4y)(3x - 2)$

Thus, the answer after factorisation is:

(x+4y)(3x-2)