Me! ! this is driving me insane! multiplying polynomials (x + y + 3)(x + y - 4) i have to place my answer to this in this: x_ _2x _ + _ _ _ x _ _ _ 1

Ok so you will have to expand it.
so in the first bracket the X Y and +3 will need to be multiplied to each of the variables in the second bracket.
so what you need to do is
X in the first bracket multiplied with X from the second bracket. then y then - 4
secondly you need to multiply the y from the first bracket to all the three.
finally multiply 3 to all the three variables.
after doing all that u should get x^2+xy-4x+xy+y^2-4y+3x+3y-12
then combine like terms and u get.
x^2+2xy-x-y+y^2-12