document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=237931>Question 237931</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help. Can someone please show me the steps so I can understand how to do this?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solve for a<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2+a-42=0\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Factor<BR>\n" );
document.write( "72-17s+s^2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #174898 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><B>Alan3354(69443)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><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=Alan3354><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=174898\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Solve for a<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2+a-42=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor it<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a + 7)*(a - 6) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = -7, a = 6<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Factor<BR>\n" );
document.write( "72-17s+s^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= s^2 - 17s + 72 It's a good idea to put it in descending order.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The coefficents of the x terms are both 1.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So it will be:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x ± a)*(x ± b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The two numbers multiply to 72, a*b = 72<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 72 is positive, so they have the same sign.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The s term is negative, so a and b are negative.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--> (x - a)*(x - b)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "ab = 72<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a+b = -17<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Look at the factors of 72 and the sum:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1 and 72 = 73<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2 and 36 = 38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3 and 24 = 27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4 and 18 = 22<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6 and 12 = 18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8 and 9  = 17 That's it.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "72-17s+s^2 = (s - 8)*(s - 9)<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );