How do you factor $-s^6 + 16s^4$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-05T21:15:18

$-s^6+16s^4 = -s^4(s^2-16) = -s^4(s^2-4^2)$

$= -s^4(s-4)(s+4)$

...using the difference of squares identity:

$a^2-b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)$

How do you factor -s^6 + 16s^4-s^6 + 16s^4?