document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=5073>Question 5073</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me to solve this equation: x^2-2x-3=0 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #2564 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><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=2564\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This quadratic equation can be solved by factoring.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 - 2x - 3 = 0  Look for two integers whose product is -3 and whose sum is -2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Some possibilities:  Since the product is negative, the two integers will have opposite signs (+, -) and since the sum is also negative, the larger (absolute value-wise) of the two integers will be negative.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1 X -3 = -3 and 1 + (-3) = -2 Bingo!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the two integers are: 1 and -3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The factors of this quadratic equation are:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " (x + 1)(x - 3) = 0  Apply the zero products principle:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 1 = 0; x = -1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x - 3 = 0; x = 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The verification is left as an exercise for the student. </SPAN>\n" );
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