document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=67738>Question 67738</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a square field with an area  x + 12 by x + 12. A section of it has been removed, and that area is x + 1 by x + 7. The area of the square minus the missing section is 217.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The equation is (x + 12)^2 - (x + 1)(x + 7) = 217.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I tried using the distributive property to get x^2 + 24x + 144 - x^2 + 8x + 7 = 217.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then I get stuck. If I combine x^2 and -x^2, I no longer have a quadratic equation, (which is the section we're studying).\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "What should I do? Thanks for your help.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "GJL  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #48185 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=48185\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the problem is to solve for x, which this appears to be, then you are proceeding correctly, except for the results of applying the distributive property.  I shouldn't be too concerned with not having a quadratic equation in the final stages. Solve for x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B12%29%28x%2B12%29-%28x%2B1%29%28x%2B7%29+=+217 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B12%29%28x%2B12%29-%28x%2B1%29%28x%2B7%29+=+217\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2%2B24x%2B144%29+-+%28x%5E2%2B8x%2B7%29+=+217 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2%2B24x%2B144%29+-+%28x%5E2%2B8x%2B7%29+=+217\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify the left side.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-x%5E2%2B24x-8x%2B144-7+=+217 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-x%5E2%2B24x-8x%2B144-7+=+217\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Continue simplifying.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=16x%2B137+=+217 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"16x%2B137+=+217\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract 137 from both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=16x+=+80 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"16x+=+80\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Finally, divide both sides by 16.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "As you can see, the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >'s drop out so you no longer have a quadratic equation but you can still solve for x.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );