document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=24740>Question 24740</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> how do i Solve by completing the square of x2 - 4x - 5 = 0 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #13202 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=13202\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Begin by adding 5 to each side to get the variables alone on the left side:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+4x+-+5+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+4x+-+5+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+4x+-+5+%2B5+=+0%2B+5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+4x+-+5+%2B5+=+0%2B+5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Prepare to add a number to each side of the equation that will make the left side of the equation a perfect square trinomial.  I like to add a blank space to each side to set this up.  Notice that in the process of completing the square, the coefficient of x^2 MUST BE 1.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, to make the perfect square trinomial, you need to take HALF of the coefficient of x, which is -4.  Half of -4 is -2, and then SQUARE the -2, which is +4.  Add PLUS 4 to each side of the equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+4x+%2B+4+=+5+%2B+4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+4x+%2B+4+=+5+%2B+4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28x-2%29%5E2+=+9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%28x-2%29%5E2+=+9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Next, take the square root of each side:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x-2+=+0%2B-3+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-2+=+0%2B-3+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Finally, add +2 to each side to isolate the x term:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This really means:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x= 2+3 = 5   OR <BR>\n" );
document.write( "x= 2-3 = -1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2 at SCC\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "P.S.  Of course, factoring WOULD have been a LOT easier!!!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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