Question

Factorise the following:
2x³ + 5x²y - 12xy²

Answer 1

2x³ + 5x²y - 12xy²
= 2x³ + 8x²y - 3x²y - 12xy²
= 2x²(x + 4y) - 3xy(x + 4y)
= (x + 4y)(2x² - 3xy)
= (x + 4y)x(2x - 3y)
= x(x + 4y)(2x - 3y).