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 = 3} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 36 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 36 $ and add to $ b = -20 $.
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 $\color{blue}{ b = -20 }$
| PRODUCT = 36 and SUM = -20 | |
| 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 $ -20 x $ with $ -2x-18x $:
$$ 12x^{2}-20x+3 = 12x^{2}-2x-18x+3 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 2x $ out of the first two terms and $ -3 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 12x^{2}-2x-18x+3 = 2x\left(6x-1\right) -3\left(6x-1\right) = \left(2x-3\right) \left(6x-1\right) $$