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put this solution on YOUR website!From your story, it appears that you have learned to solve quadratic equations by factoring. This is only one of a few ways to solve these type of equations. The difficulty arises when the equation is not readily factorable.
A quadratic equation can always be solved by use of the "quadratic formula". While it may look a little formidable, its derivation is not difficult, and it is quite easy to apply if you remember to put you quadratic equation into the "standard form:
The quadratic formula is:
Let's solve an example quadratic equation using this formula:

This already in the standard form, so: a = 1, b = 2, and c = -8 Substitute these values into their corresponding places in the formula.

Now perform the indicated arithmetic to solve for x.

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As a check, we can also solve this equation by factoring:

Factor.

Apply the zero products principle.

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If

, then

If

, then
So,

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