You can only add or subtract monomials that have the same variable and the same exponent. For example, 2a + 4a = 6a and 4a² - a² = 3a² but 2a + 4b and 7a - 3b cannot be combined. However, you can multiply and divide monomials with unlike terms. For example, 2a x 6b = 12ab.

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.

-3a - 1 = 3 + a
-3a = 3 + a + 1
-3a - a = 3 + 1
-4a = 4
a = \( \frac{4}{-4} \)
a = -1

The first step to solve a quadratic expression that's not set to zero is to solve the equation so that it is set to zero:

b² - 4b - 9 = 3b - 1
b² - 4b - 9 + 1 = 3b
b² - 4b - 3b - 8 = 0
b² - 7b - 8 = 0

Next, factor the quadratic equation:

b² - 7b - 8 = 0
(b + 1)(b - 8) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (b + 1) or (b - 8) must equal zero:

If (b + 1) = 0, b must equal -1
If (b - 8) = 0, b must equal 8

So the solution is that b = -1 or 8

The slope-intercept equation for a line is y = mx + b where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept of the line. From the graph, you can see that the y-intercept (the y-value from the point where the line crosses the y-axis) is -4. The slope of this line is the change in y divided by the change in x. The endpoints of this line segment are at (-2, 2) and (2, -10) so the slope becomes:

Plugging these values into the slope-intercept equation:

y = -3x - 4

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.

3a⁹ - 5a⁹ = -2a⁹