1. **State the problem:** Evaluate the expression $b^2 + 2ac$ given $a = -2$, $b = -5$, and $c = 3$. 2. **Write the formula:** The expression is $b^2 + 2ac$. 3. **Substitute the values:** $$(-5)^2 + 2 \times (-2) \times 3$$ 4. **Calculate each term:** $$25 + 2 \times (-2) \times 3$$ $$25 + (-12)$$ 5. **Simplify:** $$25 - 12 = 13$$ 6. **Final answer:** The value of $b^2 + 2ac$ is $13$. --- 1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $\frac{x - 8}{4} + \frac{2x + 4}{4}$. 2. **Since denominators are the same, combine numerators:** $$\frac{(x - 8) + (2x + 4)}{4}$$ 3. **Simplify numerator:** $$\frac{x - 8 + 2x + 4}{4} = \frac{3x - 4}{4}$$ 4. **Final simplified form:** $\frac{3x - 4}{4}$. None of the provided options match exactly, but if the denominator 4 is factored out, the numerator is $3x - 4$. --- **Note:** The first question's answer is $13$, which is not among the options given (A -37, B -13, D 19, E 37). The closest is B -13 but the correct evaluation is positive 13. **Summary:** - $b^2 + 2ac = 13$ - Simplified expression is $\frac{3x - 4}{4}$ --- **Graph equation:** $y = 2x^2 + 3x + 6$