Question 209557
factor: 
2x^5 + x^4 - 8x^3 - 4x^2
.
Begin by factoring out what is common among all terms:
x[2x^4 + x^3 - 8x^2 - 4x]
.
Group terms:
x[(2x^4 + x^3) - (8x^2 + 4x)]
.
Factor expressions inside parentheses:
x[x^3(2x + 1) - 4x(2x + 1)]
x[(2x + 1)(x^3- 4x)]
x(2x + 1)(x^3- 4x)