document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=185542>Question 185542</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 1/2x^2 - x -2 =0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "answer: x= 1+- sqrt(5)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "im not good with fractons trying to figure out how my book got this answer  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #139194 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=139194\">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=%281%2F2%29x%5E2+-+x+-2+=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F2%29x%5E2+-+x+-2+=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+2x+-4+=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+2x+-4+=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply EVERY term by the LCD 2 to clear the fractions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice we have a quadratic equation in the form of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where <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=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x\r<BR>\n" );
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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" );
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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%28-4%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%28-4%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=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-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=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-4%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-2%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-4%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" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4%281%29%28-4%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4-4%281%29%28-4%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" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4--16+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4--16+%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%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%281%29%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-16\"   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+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4%2B16+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+4%2B16+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%284--16%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%284--16%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%284%2B16%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%284%2B16%29\"   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+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+20+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+20+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add <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 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"20\"   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+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+20+%29%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+sqrt%28+20+%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" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282+%2B-+2%2Asqrt%285%29%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282+%2B-+2%2Asqrt%285%29%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify the square root  (note: If you need help with simplifying square roots, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Radicals/simplifying-square-roots.solver> solver</a>)  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%282%29%2F%282%29+%2B-+%282%2Asqrt%285%29%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%282%29%2F%282%29+%2B-+%282%2Asqrt%285%29%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Break up the fraction.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1+%2B-+sqrt%285%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1+%2B-+sqrt%285%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Reduce. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the solutions are  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1+%2B-+sqrt%285%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1+%2B-+sqrt%285%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This really means that the solutions are <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1%2Bsqrt%285%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1%2Bsqrt%285%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+1-sqrt%285%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+1-sqrt%285%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (since the symbol <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \pm\"> tells you that you have a \"plus\" or a \"minus\" in the place of the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \pm\">)<BR>\n" );
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