document.write( "Question 187440This question is from textbook
\n" ); document.write( ": In a sports league of n teams in which each team plays every other team twice, the total number n of games to be played in given N=n^2-n. How many teams are in a softball league if the total number of games played is 42? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #140642 by feliz1965(151)\"\" \"About 
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Let N = 42\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "42 = n^2 - n\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Subtract 42 from both sides.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n^2 - n - 42 = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We now have a quadratic equation.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The left side becomes (n - 7)(n + 6) and we set it to = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Set each factor equal 0 and solve for n.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n - 7 = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n = 7\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n + 6 = 0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n = -6\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We reject the answer n = -6 because there is no such thing as a total of negative games.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The answer is n = 7.\r
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