document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=701202>Question 701202</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I really need help. I am doing something terribly wrong and I do not know how to do this. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2+4x-12=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you very much!<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 #432313 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Simnepi><B>Simnepi(216)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Simnepi><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=Simnepi><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=432313\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> to solve quadratic equations the first thing is to look for factor pairs of the constant term, in this case that is -12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "factors of -12 are: (remember one of these has to be a negative number because negative multiplied by positive gives a negative answer)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "plus/minus 1 and 12: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "plus/minus 2 and 6: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "plus/minus 3 and 4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now we look to see if any of those factor pairs can be added to make the coefficient of the x term (that's the number in front of the x) which is +4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Obviously the factor pair we need are plus/minus 2 and 6 because -2 + 6 = +4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now we get two brackets and put an x in both and one of the factors in the other<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Like this<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+6)(x-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "making this equal zero means that either one of these brackets could equal zero, that is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "either (x+6)=0 OR (x-2)=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If x+6=0 then x=-6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Or If x-2=0 then x=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We do not know which of these solutions is the correct one so we give them both.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-6 or x=2 </SPAN>\n" );
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