The factor(s) of 12ab + 9a + 12 + 16b is/are:
(4b + 3)
12ab + 9a + 12 + 16b = 3a×(4b+3)+4×(3+4b)
We can observe that (4b + 3) is a common factor. The simplified expression becomes:
(4b+3)×(3a+4)
So, 4b + 3 and 3a + 4 are the irreducible factors of the given algebraic expression.