Question

Identify the factoring pattern: y 2 −16=(y+4)(y−4) y2-16=(y+4)(y-4)

Answer 1

This is a difference of squares. Every time you have the difference between two squares, you can factor it as the product between the sum and the difference of the roots:

$a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$

In your case, the squares are

$y^2 \to \text{the square of } y$

$16 \to \text{the square of } 4$

So, the difference between the squares, $y^2-16$ can be written as the multiplication between the sum and difference of the roots:

$y^2-16=(y+4)(y-4)$

Answer 2

I think it is the sum of cubes because if you add them, they become cubes.