document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=69885>Question 69885</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Is the following trinomial a perfect square:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 - 6x + 9\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I do not understand what method I am to use to figure this out, can anyone help me out please? Thank you </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #49805 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=49805\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Set equation equal to zero<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+6x+=+-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+6x+=+-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Get similar factors to one side, ie all x's to one side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9+=+-9%2B9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9+=+-9%2B9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Take half of the 2nd coefficient (6) and square it, then add it to both sides (note: when you take half of the 2nd coefficient, it will be part of the perfect square)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2+-+6x+%2B+9+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > You'll be left with this after simplification<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-3%29%5E2+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-3%29%5E2+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >Factor the polynomial (note if FOILed, (x-3)^2 becomes x^2-6x+9)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since the answer is in the form (x-b)^2=0 and there is no extra numbers left over, the original polynomial is a perfect square. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );