document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=329743>Question 329743</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Solve by completing the square<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2+2x-3=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x= </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #236333 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=texttutoring><B>texttutoring(324)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=texttutoring><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=texttutoring><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=236333\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Take half of the b term: (2/1) = 1 and then square it. Add this number after the 2x, but then subtract it after the -3 (so that you are adding zero to the equation overall)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 + 2x + 1 - 3 - 1 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now you can factor the perfect square trinomial x^2+2x+1 = (x+1)^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x+1)^2 - 4 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You could then graph this parabola. It has vertex (-1,-4).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The easier way to solve for the roots is to simply factor the initial equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 + 2x - 3 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ask yourself, what numbers multiply to -3 and add up to 2? 3 and -1:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 + 2x - 3 = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+3)(x-1) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so x=-3 and x = 1. These are the roots (the two locations where graph crosses the x-axis) of the equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is a link to the graph of it: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=x^2%2B2x-3%3D0 </SPAN>\n" );
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