1. **State the problem:** Factor the expression $8^2 - 50$. 2. **Rewrite the expression:** Calculate $8^2$ first. $$8^2 = 64$$ So the expression becomes: $$64 - 50$$ 3. **Simplify the expression:** $$64 - 50 = 14$$ 4. **Factor the result:** Since 14 is a prime factorization of $2 \times 7$, the expression $8^2 - 50$ simplifies to 14, which cannot be factored further as a difference of squares or other common factorization. **Final answer:** $14$