Question

Factorize the following:
20a¹²b² − 15a⁸b⁴

Answer 1

The greatest common factor of the terms 20a¹²b² and -15a⁸b⁴ of the expression 20a¹²b² - 15a⁸b⁴ is 5a⁸b².
20a¹²b² = 5×4×a⁸×a⁴×b² = 5a⁸×b² × 4a⁴ and -15a⁸b⁴ = 5×-3×a⁸×b²×b² = 5a⁸b²× -3b²

Hence, the expression 20a¹²b² - 15a⁸b⁴ can be factorised as 5a⁸b²(4a⁴-3b²)​​