Question 485258
<pre><font face = "consolas" color = "indigo"  size=4><b>
a³-4a²+2a-8

Factor the first two terms a³-4a² by taking out the
greatest common factor, a², getting a²(a-4).

Factor the last two terms +2a-8 by taking out the
greatest common factor, getting +2(a-4)

So we have

a²(a-4)+2(a-4)

Notice that there is a common factor, <font color="red">(a-4)</font>

a²<font color="red">(a-4)</font>+2<font color="red">(a-4)</font>

which we can factor out leaving the a² and the +2 to put 
in parentheses:

<font color="red">(a-4)</font>(a²+2)

Edwin</pre>