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:

z² + 7z - 3 = 4z + 1
z² + 7z - 3 - 1 = 4z
z² + 7z - 4z - 4 = 0
z² + 3z - 4 = 0

Next, factor the quadratic equation:

z² + 3z - 4 = 0
(z - 1)(z + 4) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (z - 1) or (z + 4) must equal zero:

If (z - 1) = 0, z must equal 1
If (z + 4) = 0, z must equal -4

So the solution is that z = 1 or -4

To multiply monomials, multiply the coefficients (the numbers that come before the variables) of each term, add the exponents of like variables, and multiply the different variables together.

8a x 2b = (8 x 2) (a x b) = 16ab

The coordinate grid is composed of a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis. The center of the grid, where the x-axis and y-axis meet, is called the origin.

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.

2a - 6a = -4a

A rectangle is a parallelogram containing four right angles. Opposite sides (a = c, b = d) are equal and the perimeter is the sum of the lengths of all sides (a + b + c + d) or, comonly, 2 x length x width. The area of a rectangle is length x width. A square is a rectangle with four equal length sides. The perimeter of a square is 4 x length of one side (4s) and the area is the length of one side squared (s²).