document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=187522>Question 187522</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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 by N=n2 – n.  \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "How many teams are in a softball league if the total number of games played is 42?<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #140680 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><B>ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><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=ankor@dixie-net.com><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=140680\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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 by: N = n^2 – n.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How many teams are in a softball league if the total number of games played is 42?<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n^2 - n = 42<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n^2 - n - 42 = 0; A quadratic equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "factors to:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(n-7)(n+6) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The positive solution<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n = 7 teams<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Check solution in original equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N = 7^2 - 7<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N = 42<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );