Question

How do you factor `12y^2 x^6 - 48k^4 m^8`?

Answer 1

First extract the (obvious) common factor
`12y^2x^6-48k^4m^8 = 12(y^2x^6-4k^4m^8)`

Restate the second term as the difference of squares
`= 12((yx^3)^2- (2k^2m^4)^2)`

Use the Difference of Squares Factoring Formula
`=12(yx^3+2k^2m^4)(yx^3-2k^2m^4)`