The "symbols questions" are the ones where we use some symbol to denote an operation.

In this case we define that a # b equals to a² + b² + 2ab. For any non-negative numbers a and b.
(You can think of it as we substitute "a² + b² + 2ab" for "a # b").

For example:
a # b = a² + b² + 2ab
1 # 3 = 1² + 3² + 2 × 1 × 3 = 1 + 9 + 6 = 16
5 # 2 = 5² + 2² + 2 × 5 × 2 = 25 + 4 + 20 = 49
1.5 # 0.2 = 1.5² + 0.2² + 2 × 1.5 × 0.2 = 2.25 + 0.04 + 0.6 = 2.89

Note that (-2) # 3 or (-4) # (-6) are not defined, because we stated that a and b are non-negative numbers.

We are told that a # b = 196. Let us write that in terms of common operations as a # b is defined:

a # b = a² + b² + 2ab = 196

a² + b² + 2ab = 196

So rewriting original questions statement:

We know that a² + b² + 2ab = 196. What is the value of (a + b) – 7 ?

We have two variables in the given equation, so we can not find a not knowing b and vice-versa. But we can see that

a² + b² + 2ab = (a + b)² .

It is a well-known formula. For reference here is how we calculate it: (a + b)² = (a + b) × (a + b) = a × a + a × b + b × a + b × b = a² + 2ab + b².

So we know that (a + b)² = 196

If we denote a + b as x then x² = 196.

x is 14 or -14 and so is a + b. But a + b can not equal to -14 because both a and b are non-negative numbers and therefore the sum of a + b is a non-negative number.

Since we know that a + b = 14 then (a + b) – 7 = 14 - 7 = 7.

The answer is choice (B).