$240x^2y^3 - 180x^3y^4$ - Factor the given.

Question

$240x^2y^3 - 180x^3y^4$

Question: Please Factor the Given Expression.

Thanks.

In factoring... Is it similar to the Factor Tree? Instead do we not use the tree?

My Answer (attempt $1$)

$15xy^2 (16xy-12x^2y^2)$ Is this correct? Or rather, is this a possible answer?

Answer 1

$15xy^2\cdot(16xy-12x^2y^2)$ is indeed a possible answer.

But the terms "$16xy$" and "$12x^2y^2$" still have a common factor of $4xy$.

In other words: $16xy-12x^2y^2=4xy\cdot(4-3xy)$.

Hence: $15xy^2\cdot(16xy-12x^2y^2)=15xy^2\cdot4xy\cdot(4-3xy)=60x^2y^3\cdot(4-3xy)$.

Answer 2

$$ 240x^2y^3 - 180x^3y^4 =60x^2y^3(4-3xy) $$