Factor polynomial $$ 2x^{2}-5x-12 $$

$$ 2x^{2}-5x-12 = ( x-4 )( 2x+3 ) $$

Step 1: Identify constants $ a $ , $ b $ and $ c $.
$ a $ is a number in front of the $ x^2 $ term $ b $ is a number in front of the $ x $ term and $ c $ is a constant. In this case:

$$ a = 2 , b = -5 ~ \text{ and } ~ c = -12 $$

Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 2 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = -12} $.

$$ a \cdot c = -24 $$

Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = -24 $ and add to $ b = -5 $.

Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ -24 $ are:

PRODUCT = -24
-1     24	1     -24
-2     12	2     -12
-3     8	3     -8
-4     6	4     -6

Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -5 }$

PRODUCT = -24 and SUM = -5
-1     24	1     -24
-2     12	2     -12
-3     8	3     -8
-4     6	4     -6

Step 6: Replace middle term $ -5 x $ with $ 3x-8x $:

$$ 2x^{2}-5x-12 = 2x^{2}+3x-8x-12 $$

Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ x $ out of the first two terms and $ -4 $ out of the last two terms.

$$ 2x^{2}+3x-8x-12 = x\left(2x+3\right) -4\left(2x+3\right) = \left(x-4\right) \left(2x+3\right) $$

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