document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=43572>Question 43572</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How do you solve (x+b)(x-b)=x(x-5) for x?  I would like to see every step and it would be nice if you could explain why you did each step.  Thank you very much.   </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #28573 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=28573\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> solve (x+b)(x-b)=x(x-5) for x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Use the distributive law to get;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+b)x - (x+b)b = x^2-5x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Use the distributive law again to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2+bx-bx-b^2=x^2-5x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Simplify the left side to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-b^2=x^2-5x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract x^2 from both sides to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  -b^2=-5x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Divide both sides by -5 to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "   x=b^2/5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );