Question

How do you factor `18m² n^4-12m² n^3+24m² n²`?

Answer 1

`18m^2n^4-12m^2n^3+24m^2n^2`

`=6m^2n^2(3n^2-2n+4)`

`(3n^2-2n+4)` has no simpler linear factors since it's discriminant is negative:

`Delta(3n^2-2n+4) = (-2)^2 - (4xx3xx4)`

`= 4 - 48 = -44`