How do you factor $3p^2 q^2-12n^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-04-30T18:55:32

Extract the obvious common factor
$3p^2q^2-12n^2$
$=3(p^2q^2 - 4n^2)$

Not that the second factor is the difference of squares with a common factoring:
$=3((pq)^2-(2n)^2)$
$=3(pq-2n)(pq+2n)$

How do you factor 3p^2 q^2-12n^23p^2 q^2-12n^2?