How do you factor completely 12x^3 - 3xy^2?
2 Answers
Feb 19, 2017
Explanation:
take out all common factors
use difference of squares
Feb 19, 2017
To factor, we have to divide out common factors in each term. Let's first write out the factors:
12x^3 =4*3*x*x*x
-3xy^2 =3*-1*x*y*y
Now look for the factors that each term share. We see that there is a
(3*x)(4*x*x)
(3*x)(-1*y*y)
Remember that these were being subtracted, so rewrite:
(3*x)[(4*x*x) -(1*y*y)]
Simplify.
(3x)(4x^2-y^2)
Use difference of squares to simplify further.
(3x)(2x-y)(2x+y)
