Question

Factorise the following by taking out the common factors:
2x⁵y + 8x³y² - 12x²y³

Answer 1

2x⁵y + 8x³y² - 12x²y³
Here, the common factor is 2x²y.
Dividing throughout by 2x²y, we get

`(2x^5y)/(2x^2y) + (8X^3y^2)/(2x^2y) - (12x^2y^3)/(2x^2y)`
= x³ + 4xy - 6y²
∴ 2x⁵y + 8x³y² - 12x²y³
= 2x²y(x³ + 4xy - 6y²).