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 - 18b + 55 = -3b - 1
b² - 18b + 55 + 1 = -3b
b² - 18b + 3b + 56 = 0
b² - 15b + 56 = 0

Next, factor the quadratic equation:

b² - 15b + 56 = 0
(b - 7)(b - 8) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (b - 7) or (b - 8) must equal zero:

If (b - 7) = 0, b must equal 7
If (b - 8) = 0, b must equal 8

So the solution is that b = 7 or 8

When solving an equation with two variables, replace the variables with the values given and then solve the now variable-free equation. (Remember order of operations, PEMDAS, Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.)

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.

8a³ + 8a³ = 16a³

The surface area of a cube is (2 x length x width) + (2 x width x height) + (2 x length x height):

sa = 2lw + 2wh + 2lh
sa = (2 x 1 x 2) + (2 x 2 x 8) + (2 x 1 x 8)
sa = (4) + (32) + (16)
sa = 52

A cube is a rectangular solid box with a height (h), length (l), and width (w). The volume is h x l x w and the surface area is 2lw x 2wh + 2lh.