Start by communicating well.
First, with yourself: Such algebra is beginning, not advanced. Perhaps, if you start with the concept that it is not as hard as someone told you, you will do better at it.
Second, with others. You did try to explain the "squared" to us. Good work. There is a convention to use the carat. "y-squared" might be "y^2". Be sure to separate cleanly and remember the order of operations. Insert parentheses where necesary.
16y^2 - 8y = 0
Alternatively, you could learn just a little LaTeX
This, without all the spaces, [ t e x ] 1 6 y ^ { 2 } - 8 y = 0 [ / t e x ] produces \(\displaystyle 16y^{2}-8y=0\)
Third, with your book or instructor. Surely there was a problem statement of some kind. There must have been a section heading and some readings prior to encountering this problem. What methods should you have reviewed?
Fourth, with algebra. Learn to manipulate the symbols. There is a reason why you have been encouraged to work problem after problem after problem to this point. This is the day where you prove it!!
Fifth, with your memory.
----- You need factoring.
----- You need the distributive property of multiplication ofver addition.
----- You need to know something about the values, when multiplied together, and the product is zero.
----- You should know something about least common multiples or greaterst common factors.
Let's see what you get!!!
