document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=196845>Question 196845</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395937760/algebrahomeworkh>McDougal Littell Algebra 1</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me solve this equation: x^2+5x-11/4=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It is called \"completing the square\" and has to do with solving quadratic equations. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #147572 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=147572\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> To solve this, let's first complete the square:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the left side of the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Take half of the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > coefficient <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. In other words, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F2%29%285%29=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F2%29%285%29=5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=25%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"25%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. In other words, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%285%2F2%29%5E2=%285%2F2%29%285%2F2%29=25%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%285%2F2%29%5E2=%285%2F2%29%285%2F2%29=25%2F4\"   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%2B5x%2Bhighlight%2825%2F4-25%2F4%29-11%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x%2Bhighlight%2825%2F4-25%2F4%29-11%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Now add <font size=4><b>and</b></font> subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=25%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"25%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Make sure to place this after the \"x\" term. Notice how <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=25%2F4-25%2F4=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"25%2F4-25%2F4=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. So the expression is not changed.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2%2B5x%2B25%2F4%29-25%2F4-11%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2%2B5x%2B25%2F4%29-25%2F4-11%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Group the first three terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-25%2F4-11%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-25%2F4-11%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B5x%2B25%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x%2B25%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2\"   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%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So after completing the square, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > transforms to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B5x-11%2F4=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is equivalent to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now let's solve <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=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=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2-9=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=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2=0%2B9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2=0%2B9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B5%2F2%29%5E2=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B5%2F2=%22%22%2B-sqrt%289%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B5%2F2=%22%22%2B-sqrt%289%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Take the square root of both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B5%2F2=sqrt%289%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B5%2F2=sqrt%289%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B5%2F2=-sqrt%289%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B5%2F2=-sqrt%289%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Break up the \"plus/minus\" to form two equations.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B5%2F2=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B5%2F2=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B5%2F2=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B5%2F2=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  Take the square root of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   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=-5%2F2%2B3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-5%2F2%2B3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-5%2F2-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-5%2F2-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > from both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-11%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-11%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer:\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%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-11%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-11%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. </SPAN>\n" );
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