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.

9a⁷ - 7a⁷ = 2a⁷

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, 5) and (2, -7) so the slope becomes:

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

b² - 5b - 14 = 0
(b + 2)(b - 7) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (b + 2) or (b - 7) must equal zero:

If (b + 2) = 0, b must equal -2
If (b - 7) = 0, b must equal 7

So the solution is that b = -2 or 7

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.

2z + 2 < \( \frac{z}{5} \)
5 x (2z + 2) < z
(5 x 2z) + (5 x 2) < z
10z + 10 < z
10z + 10 - z < 0
10z - z < -10
9z < -10
z < \( \frac{-10}{9} \)
z < -1\(\frac{1}{9}\)

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.