1. **State the problem:** Factor the quadratic expression $$y^2 + 13y - 30$$. 2. **Recall the factoring formula:** For a quadratic expression $$ay^2 + by + c$$, we look for two numbers that multiply to $$a \times c$$ and add to $$b$$. 3. **Identify coefficients:** Here, $$a = 1$$, $$b = 13$$, and $$c = -30$$. 4. **Find two numbers:** We need two numbers that multiply to $$1 \times (-30) = -30$$ and add to $$13$$. 5. **List factor pairs of -30:** $$(-1, 30), (1, -30), (-2, 15), (2, -15), (-3, 10), (3, -10), (-5, 6), (5, -6)$$. 6. **Check sums:** Among these, $$-2 + 15 = 13$$ matches the required sum. 7. **Rewrite the middle term:** $$y^2 + 13y - 30 = y^2 - 2y + 15y - 30$$. 8. **Group terms:** $$(y^2 - 2y) + (15y - 30)$$. 9. **Factor each group:** $$y(y - 2) + 15(y - 2)$$. 10. **Factor out common binomial:** $$(y + 15)(y - 2)$$. **Final answer:** The factored form of $$y^2 + 13y - 30$$ is $$\boxed{(y + 15)(y - 2)}$$.