It looks like you already have a common denominator (y^2-9). So, you can just add the two numerators and put that over the common denominator. Hope this helps!
Answer:
Area of remaining cardboard is 224y^2 cm^2
a + b = 226
Step-by-step explanation:
The complete and correct question is;
A rectangular piece of cardboard is 16y cm long and 23y cm wide. Four square pieces of cardboard whose sides are 6y cm each are cut away from the corners. Find the area of the remaining cardboard. Express your answer in terms of y. If your answer is ay^b, then what is a+b?
Solution;
Mathematically, at any point in time
Area of the cardboard is length * width
Here, area of the total cardboard is 16y * 23y = 368y^2 cm^2
Area of the cuts;
= 4 * (6y)^2 = 4 * 36y^2 = 144y^2
The area of the remaining cardboard will be :
368y^2-144y^2
= 224y^2
Compare this with;
ay^b
a = 224, and b = 2
a + b = 224 + 2 = 226
