How to simplify binomials

A binomial can be simplified further if and only if the two terms have the same combination of variables and the same exponents for each like variable. This is not the case in any of the four binomials given, so none of the expressions can be simplified further.

We first expand each binomial to get x2 + 2xy + y2 = 144 and x2 - 2xy + y2 = 64. We then subtract the second equation from the first to find 4xy = 80. Finally, we divide each side by 4 to find xy = 20.