a) \(2x^2-4xy+2y^2-8z^2=2\left(x^2-2xy+y^2-4z^2\right)=2\left[\left(x-y\right)^2-\left(2z\right)^2\right]\)
\(=2\left(x-y-2z\right)\left(x-y+2z\right)\)
b) \(x^3-3x^2-4x+12=x^2\left(x-3\right)-4\left(x-3\right)=\left(x^2-4\right)\left(x-3\right)=\left(x-2\right)\left(x+2\right)\left(x-3\right)\)