document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=271150>Question 271150</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me solve this equation: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29%2B%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29%2B%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here's what I have tried: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283a-5%29%2F%28%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29%29%2B%282%28a%2B1%29%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "LCM: (a+3)(a+1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283a-5%29%2F%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=3a-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283a-5%29%2F%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=3a-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282%28a%2B1%29%29%2F%28a%2B3%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=2%28a%2B1%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282%28a%2B1%29%29%2F%28a%2B3%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=2%28a%2B1%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=%28a-3%29%28a%2B3%29=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29%D7%28a%2B3%29%28a%2B1%29=%28a-3%29%28a%2B3%29=a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3a-5%2B2%28a%5E2%2B2a%2B1%29=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3a-5%2B2%28a%5E2%2B2a%2B1%29=a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3a-5%2B2a%5E2%2B4a%2B2=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3a-5%2B2a%5E2%2B4a%2B2=a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2a%5E2%2B7a-3=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2a%5E2%2B7a-3=a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2a%5E2-a%5E2%2B7a-3=a%5E2-a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2a%5E2-a%5E2%2B7a-3=a%5E2-a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2%2B7a%2B3=-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2%2B7a%2B3=-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2%2B7a%2B3-3=-9-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2%2B7a%2B3-3=-9-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2%2B7a=-12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2%2B7a=-12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and then I got stuck. Did I do something wrong somewhere? I see that I can factor out a on the left side, but I'm supposed to be solving for a. So if I factor out a I'm still left with a(a+7) and to solve for a I would have to divide by 7? Don't I have to divide All terms on the left by 7 then? Maybe I'm just getting too tired but I really don't know what to do next. I would really appreciate a nudge in the right direction. I forgot to say thank you in advance on my last question, so Thanks in advance on this one and the last one.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "~Kendra~ </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #198549 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Greenfinch><B>Greenfinch(383)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Greenfinch><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=Greenfinch><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=198549\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Minor sign problem I think.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2 + 7a -3 = -9  not +3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2 + 7a +6 = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a + 6)(a + 1) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = -6 or -1 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );