6x³+3x²y-2xy–y² First way: Factor first two terms 6x³+3x²y as 3x²(2x+y). Factor last two terms -2xy-y² as -y(2x+y). 3x²(2x+y)-y(2x+y) Let U = (2x+y) 3x²U-yU U(3x²-y) Replace U by (2x+y) (2x+y)(3x²-y) ======================= 6x³+3x²y-2xy–y² Second way: Swap middle two terms: 6x³-2xy+3x²y–y² Factor first two terms 6x³-2xy as 2x(3x²-y). Factor last two terms +3x²y-y² as +y(3x²-y). 2x(3x²-y)+y(3x²-y) Let U = (3x²-y) 2xU+yU U(2x+y) Replace U by (3x²-y) (3x²-y)(2x+y) Edwin