Final answer:
To solve the quadratic equation t² - 6t - 16 = 0 by factoring, find two numbers whose product is the constant term (-16) and whose sum is the coefficient of the middle term (-6). The equation can be factored as (t - 8)(t + 2) = 0. The solutions are t = 8 and t = -2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the quadratic equation t² - 6t - 16 = 0 by factoring, we need to find two numbers whose product is the constant term (-16) and whose sum is the coefficient of the middle term (-6). The numbers that satisfy these conditions are -8 and 2, as -8 * 2 = -16 and -8 + 2 = -6. Therefore, the equation can be factored as (t - 8)(t + 2) = 0. Setting each factor equal to zero, we find the solutions t = 8 and t = -2. So, the answers are 8, -2.