Question

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

Answer 1

=`(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"`