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

You can only add or subtract monomials that have the same variable and the same exponent. For example, 2a + 4a = 6a and 4a² - a² = 3a² but 2a + 4b and 7a - 3b cannot be combined. However, you can multiply and divide monomials with unlike terms. For example, 2a x 6b = 12ab.

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 - 5a = -3a

To find the diagonal we need to know the length of one of the square's sides. We know the area and the area of a square is the length of one side squared:

a = s²

so the length of one side of the square is:

s = \( \sqrt{a} \) = \( \sqrt{64} \) = 8

The Pythagorean theorem defines the square of the hypotenuse (diagonal) of a triangle with a right angle as the sum of the squares of the other two sides:

c² = a² + b²
c² = 8² + 8²
c² = 128
c = \( \sqrt{128} \) = \( \sqrt{64 x 2} \) = \( \sqrt{64} \) \( \sqrt{2} \)
c = 8\( \sqrt{2} \)

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 + 7)(y - 3)
(y x y) + (y x -3) + (7 x y) + (7 x -3)
y² - 3y + 7y - 21
y² + 4y - 21