Question

factor the polynomial 3xy-4x+6y-8

Answer 1

Because you have 4 terms, this leaves factoring by grouping as an option worth checking. If we can make two groups of two out of these 4 terms, we may be able to factor a greatest common factor out of each and possible get a match of terms. Now, it makes the most sense to group together terms that would have nice, related coefficients. So I see that 3 and 6 work nice together, both divisible by . And I see the 4 and 8 work well together, both divisible by 4. So Ill group those terms together.

3xy + 6y
-4x-8

So what would see as the greatest common factor out of both those groups?