What is the M Help!!

Step-by-step explanation:

If the number is represented by x, then its square is x². The "sum of a number and its square" will be x + x². "Is 42" means this sum is equal to 42, so we have
  x + x² = 42

Of course, the addition is commutative, so we can rearrange the order to
  a. x² + x = 42