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.

3a - 5a = -2a

A right angle measures 90 degrees and is the intersection of two perpendicular lines. In diagrams, a right angle is indicated by a small box completing a square with the perpendicular lines.

A circle is a figure in which each point around its perimeter is an equal distance from the center. The radius of a circle is the distance between the center and any point along its perimeter. A chord is a line segment that connects any two points along its perimeter. The diameter of a circle is the length of a chord that passes through the center of the circle and equals twice the circle's radius (2r).

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.

7b - 5 < -2 - 9b
7b < -2 - 9b + 5
7b + 9b < -2 + 5
16b < 3
b < \( \frac{3}{16} \)
b < \(\frac{3}{16}\)

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:

a² - 3a + 9 = 4a - 1
a² - 3a + 9 + 1 = 4a
a² - 3a - 4a + 10 = 0
a² - 7a + 10 = 0

Next, factor the quadratic equation:

a² - 7a + 10 = 0
(a - 2)(a - 5) = 0

For this expression to be true, the left side of the expression must equal zero. Therefore, either (a - 2) or (a - 5) must equal zero:

If (a - 2) = 0, a must equal 2
If (a - 5) = 0, a must equal 5

So the solution is that a = 2 or 5