To combine like terms, add or subtract the coefficients (the numbers that come before the variables) of terms that have the same variable raised to the same exponent.

9a + 6a = 15a

To find the diagonal we need to know the length of one of the square's sides. We know the area and the area of a square is the length of one side squared:

a = s²

so the length of one side of the square is:

s = \( \sqrt{a} \) = \( \sqrt{4} \) = 2

The Pythagorean theorem defines the square of the hypotenuse (diagonal) of a triangle with a right angle as the sum of the squares of the other two sides:

c² = a² + b²
c² = 2² + 2²
c² = 8
c = \( \sqrt{8} \) = \( \sqrt{4 x 2} \) = \( \sqrt{4} \) \( \sqrt{2} \)
c = 2\( \sqrt{2} \)

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 > sign and the answer on the other.

-4b - 1 > \( \frac{b}{5} \)
5 x (-4b - 1) > b
(5 x -4b) + (5 x -1) > b
-20b - 5 > b
-20b - 5 - b > 0
-20b - b > 5
-21b > 5
b > \( \frac{5}{-21} \)
b > -\(\frac{5}{21}\)

To multiply binomials, use the FOIL method. FOIL stands for First, Outside, Inside, Last and refers to the position of each term in the parentheses.

An equation is two expressions separated by an equal sign. The key to solving equations is to 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.