To factor the polynomial \(16x^8 - 49x^2\), we can recognize that this expression follows the pattern of the difference of squares:
\[ a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b) \]
In this case, we can rewrite \(16x^8\) and \(49x^2\) as:
\[ 16x^8 = (4x^4)^2 \quad \text{and} \quad 49x^2 = (7x)^2 \]
Therefore, we can express the polynomial as:
\[ (4x^4)^2 - (7x)^2 \]
Now we can apply the difference of squares formula:
\[ (4x^4 - 7x)(4x^4 + 7x) \]
Thus, the polynomial \(16x^8 - 49x^2\) can be factored as:
\[ (4x^4 - 7x)(4x^4 + 7x) \]
So the correct answer is that the difference of squares pattern can be used to factor \(16x^8 - 49x^2\).