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:
Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 12 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = 6} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 72 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 72 $ and add to $ b = -17 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ 72 $ are:
| PRODUCT = 72 | |
| 1 72 | -1 -72 |
| 2 36 | -2 -36 |
| 3 24 | -3 -24 |
| 4 18 | -4 -18 |
| 6 12 | -6 -12 |
| 8 9 | -8 -9 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -17 }$
| PRODUCT = 72 and SUM = -17 | |
| 1 72 | -1 -72 |
| 2 36 | -2 -36 |
| 3 24 | -3 -24 |
| 4 18 | -4 -18 |
| 6 12 | -6 -12 |
| 8 9 | -8 -9 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ -17 x $ with $ -8x-9x $:
$$ 12x^{2}-17x+6 = 12x^{2}-8x-9x+6 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 4x $ out of the first two terms and $ -3 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 12x^{2}-8x-9x+6 = 4x\left(3x-2\right) -3\left(3x-2\right) = \left(4x-3\right) \left(3x-2\right) $$