If (y - 3)2 = 16, what is the smallest possible value of y2?
A. -4
B. 1
C. 7
D. 16
E. 49
If (y - 3)2 = 16, then the number inside the parentheses must be either 4 or -4. If y - 3 = 4, then y = 7 and y2 = 49. If y - 3 = -4, then y = 3 - 4 = -1, so y2 = 1. The smallest possible value of y2 is 1.