A line on the coordinate grid can be defined by a slope-intercept equation: y = mx + b. For a given value of x, the value of y can be determined given the slope (m) and y-intercept (b) of the line. The slope of a line is change in y over change in x, \({\Delta y \over \Delta x}\), and the y-intercept is the y-coordinate where the line crosses the vertical y-axis.

To solve this equation, repeatedly do the same thing to both sides of the equation until the variable is isolated on one side of the equal sign and the answer on the other.

x + 2 = \( \frac{x}{4} \)
4 x (x + 2) = x
(4 x x) + (4 x 2) = x
4x + 8 = x
4x + 8 - x = 0
4x - x = -8
3x = -8
x = \( \frac{-8}{3} \)
x = -2\(\frac{2}{3}\)

A monomial contains one term, a binomial contains two terms, and a polynomial contains more than two terms.

The first step to solve a quadratic equation that's set to zero is to factor the quadratic equation:

y² + 6y - 27 = 0
(y - 3)(y + 9) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (y - 3) or (y + 9) must equal zero:

If (y - 3) = 0, y must equal 3
If (y + 9) = 0, y must equal -9

So the solution is that y = 3 or -9

To multiply monomials, multiply the coefficients (the numbers that come before the variables) of each term, add the exponents of like variables, and multiply the different variables together.

(9a)(4ab) - (9a²)(8b)
(9 x 4)(a x a x b) - (9 x 8)(a² x b)
(36)(a¹⁺¹ x b) - (72)(a²b)
36a²b - 72a²b
-36a²b