Final answer:
To factor the expression 16x^2 - 9y^2, we identify it as a difference of squares and use the special factoring formula to get (4x - 3y)(4x + 3y).
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression 16x2 - 9y2 represents a difference of squares, which is a special product that can be factored using the formula a2 - b2 = (a + b)(a - b). In this case, 16x2 is the square of 4x (since (4x)2 = 16x2) and 9y2 is the square of 3y (since (3y)2 = 9y2). Therefore, the factored form of the expression is (4x - 3y)(4x + 3y). This factorization highlights the inherent structure of the difference of squares, showcasing the relationship between the original terms and the factored result without explicitly stating the equation.