Question

How do you factor completely `6x^2 + 18xy + 12y^2`?

Answer 1

`6(x + 2y)(x + y)`

Explanation:

Always look to see if there is a common factor first.
In this case you can divide out a factor of 6 from all the terms.

`6(x^2 + 3xy +2y^2)`

Now, the factors of 2 which add up to 3 are 2 and 1.
The signs are the same, they are both positive.
There will be an x and a y term in each bracket.

`6(x + 2y)(x + y)`