document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=360730>Question 360730</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I was wondering if someone who is an expert in this area could help me? I don't understand how to obtain the answer for the following problem. In order for me to get a good grade, I need to show all the steps I used to get the answer. I would be most appreciated and happy if you could show me how to solve the following problem: \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Directions: Use the discriminant to determine the number and type of solutions for the given equation. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "X^2+ 3x-4=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "according to my book it states that the answer is: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "two rational solutions. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "My question is how do I know this? What steps do I have to take to determine this? I thank you for your help!  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #257427 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=257427\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> From <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B3x-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B3x-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > we can see that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-4\"   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=D=b%5E2-4ac ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=b%5E2-4ac\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the discriminant formula.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=D=%283%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=%283%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-4\"   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=D=9-4%281%29%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=9-4%281%29%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   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=D=9--16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=9--16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%281%29%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%281%29%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284%29%28-4%29=-16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284%29%28-4%29=-16\"   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=D=9%2B16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=9%2B16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=D=9--16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=9--16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=D=9%2B16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=9%2B16\"   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=D=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=25\"   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 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the discriminant is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=D=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"D=25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the discriminant is greater than zero, this means that there are two real solutions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Note: because the discriminant is a perfect square, this means that the two real solutions are also two rational solutions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you need more help, email me at <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"mailto:jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com?Subject=Algebra%20Help\">jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Also, feel free to check out my <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"http://www.freewebs.com/jimthompson5910/home.html\">tutoring website</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Jim </SPAN>\n" );
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