Lucas and erick are factoring the polynomial 12x3 - 6x2 8x - 4. lucas groups the polynomial (12x3 8x) (-6x2 - 4) to factor. erick groups the polynomial (12x3 - 6x2) (8x - 4) to factor. who correctly grouped the terms to factor? explain.

Hello,

As written in the question : none!

Lucas:

12x^3-6x^2+8x-4 = (12x^3+8x) + (-6x²-4)

=4x (3x²+2) - 2 (3x²+2) = (3x²+2) (4x-2) = 2 (3x²+2) (2x-1)

And Lucas wrote " (12x3 8x) (-6x2 - 4) "

and that is not le correct answer : sign "+" is missing bethween 12x3 and 8x.

And this is a big mistake!

Erick:

12x^3-6x²+8x-4 = (12x^3-6x²) + (8x-4)

=6x² (2x-1) + 4 (2x-1) = (2x-1) (6x²+4) = 2 (2x-1) (3x²+2)

And Erick wrote (12x3 - 6x2) (8x - 4)

Factorisation is not complete!