(factorise) 3m(square) - 16mn - 12n (square)

(m - 6n)(3m + 2n)

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

3m² - 16mn - 12n²

Consider the factors of the product of the coefficient of the m² term and the n² term which sum to give the coefficient of the mn term

product = 3 × - 12 = - 36 and sum = - 16

The factors are - 18 and + 2

Use these factors to split the mn term

3m² - 18mn + 2mn - 12n² ( factor the first/second and third/fourth terms )

= 3m(m - 6n) + 2n(m - 6n) ← factor out (m - 6n) from each term

= (m - 6n)(3m + 2n)

take the logarithm of both sides (the base of the log doesn't matter):

apply the exponent property - this says that :

distribute the log terms on both sides:

group like terms together:

divide through both sides by the coefficient on :

you can do some additional rewriting here using the properties of the logarithm to simplify things if you like: