document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=411281>Question 411281</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Do I leave my answer in fraction form or in whole number form?  How do I know?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2-3x-28=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3+-sqrt((3)^2-4(1)(-28))/(2(1))<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3+-sqrt(9+112)/(2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-3+-sqrt(121)/(2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x=(4)/(1) and x=-(7)/(1)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #289138 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><B>MathLover1(20850)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><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=MathLover1><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=289138\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " <TR><TD  ALIGN=MIDDLE>Solved by <A  rel=nofollow HREF=http://wiki.algebra.com/index.php/Tutoring_-_pluggable_solvers>pluggable</A> solver: <A  rel=nofollow HREF=quadratic_formula.solver>Quadratic Formula</A></TD></TR>\n" );
document.write( "<TR><TD  ALIGN=LEFT>Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x:<BR><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Starting with the general quadratic<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  the general solution using the quadratic equation is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So lets solve <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-3%2Ax-28=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-3%2Ax-28=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ( notice <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=-28 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-28\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28--3+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28--3+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in a=1, b=-3, and c=-28<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate -3 to get 3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9-4%2A1%2A-28+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square -3 to get 9  (note: remember when you square -3, you must square the negative as well. This is because <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-3%29%5E2=-3%2A-3=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-3%29%5E2=-3%2A-3=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9%2B112+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9%2B112+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-4%2A-28%2A1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-4%2A-28%2A1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=112 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"112\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Radicals/simplifying-square-roots.solver> solver</a>)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So now the expression breaks down into two parts<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B+11%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B+11%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+-+11%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+-+11%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Lets look at the first part:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%283+%2B+11%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%283+%2B+11%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=14%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=14%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add the terms in the numerator<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So one answer is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Now lets look at the second part:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%283+-+11%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%283+-+11%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-8%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-8%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract the terms in the numerator<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So another answer is<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So our solutions are:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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