What is \( 5^2 - 3^2 \)?

To find the value of ( 5^2 - 3^2 ), start by calculating the squares of 5 and 3. The square of 5 is ( 5^2 = 25 ) and the square of 3 is ( 3^2 = 9 ).

Now, subtract the square of 3 from the square of 5:

[

5^2 - 3^2 = 25 - 9

]

This simplifies to:

[

25 - 9 = 16

]

Therefore, the result of ( 5^2 - 3^2 ) is 16. This matches the first option, confirming it as the correct answer. This calculation demonstrates the application of basic arithmetic and exponentiation, providing a straightforward solution to the expression given. The use of squared terms emphasizes the concept of difference of squares differently, but the direct approach confirms the accuracy of the arithmetic performed.