Solve for x the solve for b

For the equations below which statement is true ?

Evaluate the expression for the given value of the variable 7a - 4a for a =8

1- what do you think the product of a nonzero rational number and an irrational number is? is it rational or irrational? make use of variables, the closure property of integers, and possibly a proof by contradiction to prove your hypothesis.2- why do we have to specify that the rational number must be nonzero when we determine what the product of a nonzero rational number and an irrational number is? if the rational number were 0, would it give us the same result we found in the first question?