Question 698684
First, break apart each term into its prime factors:<br>

{{{16x^5 = 2*2*2*2*x*x*x*x*x}}}
{{{12x^4 = 2*2*3*x*x*x*x}}}
{{{20x^3 = 2*2*5*x*x*x}}}
{{{12x^2 = 2*2*3*x*x}}}<br>

In order to factor, a number or variable must appear in every one of the individual terms' prime factorizations. The numbers shared by every term in the polynomial is<br>

{{{2*2*x*x = 4*x^2}}}, which is the term that can be factored out of the expression. The expression can be factored as:<br>

{{{(4*x^2)*((16*x^5-12*x^4+20*x^3+12*x^2)/(4*x^2))}}}, which equals
{{{(4*x^2)*(4*x^3-3*x^2+5*x+3)}}}