Question

A carpenter is refinishing two cupboards. She must add the areas of the cupboards to determine the amount of plywood she needs. The area of the first cupboard is modeled by 3a^2 − 5y + 15, and the area of the second cupboard is modeled by 4a^2 + 5y + 5. Identify the polynomial that represents the total area of the cupboards.

Answer 1

You are given the area of both cupboards.

The total area would be found by adding the two areas together:

3a^2 − 5y + 15 + 4a^2 + 5y + 5

Combine like terms:

3a^2 + 4a^2 = 7a^2

-5y + 5y = 0y

15 +5 = 20

The area of both cupboards would be 7a^2+20