a) \(3x^2-8x+4\)
\(=3x^2-6x-2x+4\)
\(=3x\left(x-2\right)-2\left(x-2\right)\)
\(=\left(x-2\right)\left(3x-2\right)\)
b) \(x^3-x^2-4\)
\(=x^3-2x^2+x^2-2x+2x-4\)
\(=x^2\left(x-2\right)+x\left(x-2\right)+2\left(x-2\right)\)
\(=\left(x-2\right)\left(x^2+x+2\right)\)