How do you factor completely #2x² - 8x -3xy + 12y#?

1 Answer
Jul 14, 2016

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

Explanation:

There are 4 terms. They can be factored by grouping.
Group them in pairs to create a common factor in each pair, but place a + sign between the groups.

#(2x^2 - 8x) + (-3xy +12y)#

=#2x(x -4) -3y(x - 4) " note the sign changes!"#

=#(x-4)(2x + 3y) " common bracket"#