1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $6x - 4$ if possible. 2. **Analyze the expression:** The expression $6x - 4$ is a linear expression with two terms: $6x$ and $-4$. 3. **Check for common factors:** Both terms have a common factor of 2. 4. **Factor out the common factor:** $$6x - 4 = 2(3x - 2)$$ 5. **Final simplified form:** The expression simplified by factoring is: $$2(3x - 2)$$ This is the simplest factored form of the expression $6x - 4$.