Let's factor $x^2 - 16$ step by step! 🎉
**Step 1:** Notice that $x^2 - 16$ is a difference of squares because $16 = 4^2$.
**Step 2:** The difference of squares formula is $a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)$.
**Step 3:** Here, $a = x$ and $b = 4$.
**Step 4:** So, $x^2 - 16 = (x - 4)(x + 4)$.
Imagine you have two groups of toys:
Group 1 (x - 4):
🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸
(4 toys)
âž•
🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸
(4 toys)
Group 2 (x + 4):
🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸
(8 toys)
Great job! So, the factored form is $\boxed{(x - 4)(x + 4)}$. 🎯🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸 🧸
(8 toys)