You need to find the value of a so solve the first equation in terms of y:

3a + y = -2
y = -2 - 3a

then substitute the result (-2 - 3a) into the second equation:

6a - 9(-2 - 3a) = 1
6a + (-9 x -2) + (-9 x -3a) = 1
6a + 18 + 27a = 1
6a + 27a = 1 - 18
33a = -17
a = \( \frac{-17}{33} \)
a = -\(\frac{17}{33}\)

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:

(y + 5)(y - 4)
(y x y) + (y x -4) + (5 x y) + (5 x -4)
y² - 4y + 5y - 20
y² + y - 20

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 9 x 3) + (2 x 3 x 5) + (2 x 9 x 5)
sa = (54) + (30) + (90)
sa = 174

Parallel lines are lines that share the same slope (steepness) and therefore never intersect. A transversal occurs when a set of parallel lines are crossed by another line. All of the angles formed by a transversal are called interior angles and angles in the same position on different parallel lines equal each other (a° = w°, b° = x°, c° = z°, d° = y°) and are called corresponding angles. Alternate interior angles are equal (a° = z°, b° = y°, c° = w°, d° = x°) and all acute angles (a° = c° = w° = z°) and all obtuse angles (b° = d° = x° = y°) equal each other. Same-side interior angles are supplementary and add up to 180° (e.g. a° + d° = 180°, d° + c° = 180°).

For parallel lines with a transversal, the following relationships apply:

• angles in the same position on different parallel lines equal each other (a° = w°, b° = x°, c° = z°, d° = y°)
• alternate interior angles are equal (a° = z°, b° = y°, c° = w°, d° = x°)
• all acute angles (a° = c° = w° = z°) and all obtuse angles (b° = d° = x° = y°) equal each other
• same-side interior angles are supplementary and add up to 180° (e.g. a° + d° = 180°, d° + c° = 180°)

Applying these relationships starting with z° = 29, the value of w° is 29.