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:

$$ a = 12 , b = -16 ~ \text{ and } ~ c = -3 $$

Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 12 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = -3} $.

$$ a \cdot c = -36 $$

Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = -36 $ and add to $ b = -16 $.

Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ -36 $ are:

PRODUCT = -36
-1     36	1     -36
-2     18	2     -18
-3     12	3     -12
-4     9	4     -9
-6     6	6     -6

Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -16 }$

PRODUCT = -36 and SUM = -16
-1     36	1     -36
-2     18	2     -18
-3     12	3     -12
-4     9	4     -9
-6     6	6     -6

Step 6: Replace middle term $ -16 x $ with $ 2x-18x $:

$$ 12x^{2}-16x-3 = 12x^{2}+2x-18x-3 $$

Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 2x $ out of the first two terms and $ -3 $ out of the last two terms.

$$ 12x^{2}+2x-18x-3 = 2x\left(6x+1\right) -3\left(6x+1\right) = \left(2x-3\right) \left(6x+1\right) $$

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