1. The problem is to evaluate the expression $2^4 - 16$. 2. Recall that $2^4$ means $2$ raised to the power of $4$, which is $2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2$. 3. Calculate $2^4$: $$2^4 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 = 16$$ 4. Substitute back into the expression: $$2^4 - 16 = 16 - 16$$ 5. Simplify the subtraction: $$16 - 16 = 0$$ 6. Therefore, the value of the expression $2^4 - 16$ is $0$.