To factor the expression -45y^2 + 40y, we first need to find the greatest common factor of the coefficients and variables. In this case, the greatest common factor of -45 and 40 is 5, and the greatest common factor of y^2 and y is y.
So, we can factor out 5y from the expression:
-45y^2 + 40y
= 5y (-9y + 8)
Therefore, the factored form of the expression -45y^2 + 40y is 5y (-9y + 8).