Write the expansion of each binomial. (x-y) ^4

When you expand the binomial, you isolate each of the parts.

So, (x-y) ^4 would turn into ...

x^4 - y^4

The powers stay the same because (outside the parenthesis) you multiply them with whatever is inside the parenthesis. In this case, would be 1. All variables and numbers without a listed power have a power of one. Multiply 4*1 to get 4.