how would you completely factor 2x^3 – 24x^2y + 12xy – 144y^2 ?

Question

amistre64 · Answer

deal with the numbers first:

2x^3 –24x^2y  +12xy –144y^2  ; 2 is the biggest one they
                                                    have in common

2 (x^3 –12x^2y  +6xy –72y^2) , now is there any variables
                                                 they have in common?  no

amistre64 · Answer

unless you typoed it to begin with, thats all i see

amistre64 · Answer

wolfram disagrees with my assessment tho .. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=factor+2x^3+%E2%80%93+24x^2y+%2B+12xy+%E2%80%93+144y^2

amistre64 · Answer

i spose we could have tried grouping ... but i was never had an eye for that to begin with :)

amistre64 · Answer

2 [ (x^3 –12x^2y) +(6xy –72y^2) ]

2 [ x^2(x –12y) +6y(x –12y) ]

2 (x –12y) (x^2+6y)