a) 5x^2 + 6xy + y^2
=5x2+5xy+xy+y2
=5x.(x+y)+y.(x+y)
=(x+y)(5x+y)
b) x^2 + 2xy - 15y^2.
=x2-3xy+5xy-15y2
=x.(x-3y)+5y.(x-3y)
=(x-3y)(x+5y)
c) (x-y)^2 + 4(x-y) - 12
=(x-y)2+4(x-y)+4-16
=(x-y+2)2-16
=(x-y+2-4)(x-y+2+4)
=(x-y-2)(x-y+6)
d) x^3 - 2x - 4.
=x3+2x2+2x-2x2-4x-4
=x.(x2+2x+2)-2.(x2+2x+2)
=(x2+2x+2)(x-2)