Question

How do you factor `12a^2 - 4ac + 3ab - bc`?

Answer 1

Let us try grouping and spotting common factors:

`12a^2 - 4ac + 3ab - bc = (12a^2 - 4ac) + (3ab - bc)`

`= (4a*3a - 4a*c) + (b*3a - b*c)`

`= 4a(3a-c) + b(3a-c)`

`= (4a + b)(3a - c)`