document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=150813>Question 150813</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I'm confused with this function problem.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "It states: For the function f(x) = x^2-2x+1 solve f(x) = 0.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I'm confused about this question, please help me. Thank you. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #110736 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=110736\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%28x%29+=+x%5E2-2x%2B1+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%28x%29+=+x%5E2-2x%2B1+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given function\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=+x%5E2-2x%2B1+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=+x%5E2-2x%2B1+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%28x%29=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%28x%29=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Here are two ways to solve for x:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Method # 1 Factoring:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-2x%2B1=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-2x%2B1=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-1%29%28x-1%29=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-1%29%28x-1%29=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor the left side (note: if you need help with factoring, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/playground/change-this-name4450.solver>solver</a>)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Now set each factor equal to zero:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x-1=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-1=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x-1=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-1=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >    Now solve for x in each case\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Since we have a repeating answer, our only answer is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Method # 2 Quadratic Formula:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-2x%2B1=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-2x%2B1=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "From <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-2x%2B1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-2x%2B1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we can see that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the quadratic formula\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-%28-2%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-%28-2%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4%281%29%281%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%281%29%281%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%281%29%281%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+0+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+0+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > from <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+0+%29%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+0+%29%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+0%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+0%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Take the square root of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B+0%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B+0%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+-+0%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+-+0%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Break up the expression. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=++%282%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=++%282%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "So the solution is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "  \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "==========================================\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Answer:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Using either method, we get the solution <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );