y^4-17y^2+16=0

Solution for y^4-17y^2+16=0 equation:

Simplifying
y4 + -17y2 + 16 = 0

Reorder the terms:
16 + -17y2 + y4 = 0

Solving
16 + -17y2 + y4 = 0

Solving for variable 'y'.

Factor a trinomial.
(1 + -1y2)(16 + -1y2) = 0

Factor a difference between two squares.
((1 + y)(1 + -1y))(16 + -1y2) = 0

Factor a difference between two squares.
((4 + y)(4 + -1y))(1 + y)(1 + -1y) = 0

Subproblem 1
Set the factor '(1 + y)' equal to zero and attempt to solve:

Simplifying
1 + y = 0

Solving
1 + y = 0

Move all terms containing y to the left, all other terms to the right.

Add '-1' to each side of the equation.
1 + -1 + y = 0 + -1

Combine like terms: 1 + -1 = 0
0 + y = 0 + -1
y = 0 + -1

Combine like terms: 0 + -1 = -1
y = -1

Simplifying
y = -1
Subproblem 2
Set the factor '(1 + -1y)' equal to zero and attempt to solve:

Simplifying
1 + -1y = 0

Solving
1 + -1y = 0

Move all terms containing y to the left, all other terms to the right.

Add '-1' to each side of the equation.
1 + -1 + -1y = 0 + -1

Combine like terms: 1 + -1 = 0
0 + -1y = 0 + -1
-1y = 0 + -1

Combine like terms: 0 + -1 = -1
-1y = -1

Divide each side by '-1'.
y = 1

Simplifying
y = 1
Subproblem 3
Set the factor '(4 + y)' equal to zero and attempt to solve:

Simplifying
4 + y = 0

Solving
4 + y = 0

Move all terms containing y to the left, all other terms to the right.

Add '-4' to each side of the equation.
4 + -4 + y = 0 + -4

Combine like terms: 4 + -4 = 0
0 + y = 0 + -4
y = 0 + -4

Combine like terms: 0 + -4 = -4
y = -4

Simplifying
y = -4
Subproblem 4
Set the factor '(4 + -1y)' equal to zero and attempt to solve:

Simplifying
4 + -1y = 0

Solving
4 + -1y = 0

Move all terms containing y to the left, all other terms to the right.

Add '-4' to each side of the equation.
4 + -4 + -1y = 0 + -4

Combine like terms: 4 + -4 = 0
0 + -1y = 0 + -4
-1y = 0 + -4

Combine like terms: 0 + -4 = -4
-1y = -4

Divide each side by '-1'.
y = 4

Simplifying
y = 4
Solution
y = {-1, 1, -4, 4}