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 - 17b + 41 = -3b - 4
b² - 17b + 41 + 4 = -3b
b² - 17b + 3b + 45 = 0
b² - 14b + 45 = 0

Next, factor the quadratic equation:

b² - 14b + 45 = 0
(b - 5)(b - 9) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (b - 5) or (b - 9) must equal zero:

If (b - 5) = 0, b must equal 5
If (b - 9) = 0, b must equal 9

So the solution is that b = 5 or 9

A monomial contains one term, a binomial contains two terms, and a polynomial contains more than two terms.

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.

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 3 x 3) + (2 x 3 x 6) + (2 x 3 x 6)
sa = (18) + (36) + (36)
sa = 90

To solve this equation, 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.)

-7a(a - z)
-7(2)(2 + 4)
-7(2)(6)
(-14)(6)
-84