document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=925174>Question 925174</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> There are certain steps I must follow to do this equation,  This is an assignment. I have never taken algebra before but have gotten comments that this is different then most are used too.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The equation is: x2 - 2x -13 =0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the 1st step is to move the constant to the right and I did that.x2-2x=13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd step:multiply each term in the equation by 4times the coefficient of the x2 term. and I did that: 4x2 -8x = 52<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3rd step square the coefficient of the original x term and add it to both sides of the equation, and I did that too: 4x2 -8x +4 = 52 + 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4th step and the one I am stuck on is take the square root of both sides.  I am not sure if I get a sum from the terms 4x2 -8 +4 and find a square root, I am just unsure of how to find the square root of these numbers </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #561354 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39617)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=561354\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The exercise assignment is justified for an Algebra student, but is not a reasonable exercise for someone who never took Algebra before.  How would you know how to factorize a trinomial quadratic expression ( as in your step number 4) without first learning sufficient Algebra?  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The description of steps seems to be similar to Completing The Square, but is not the typical method taught.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you had learned Introductory Algebra, you could study and then understand this lesson:  <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-to-Solve-General-Quadratic-Equation.lesson?content_action=show_dev\">http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-to-Solve-General-Quadratic-Equation.lesson?content_action=show_dev</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you want a visual explanation of Completing The Square, study this lesson:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-Using-Pictures.lesson?content_action=show_dev\"\">http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-Using-Pictures.lesson?content_action=show_dev</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Neither of those are likely to make any sense until you studied enough Algebra.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The final result of the sequence of steps in your exercise should be:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%28x-1%29=0%2B-+2sqrt%2814%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%28x-1%29=0%2B-+2sqrt%2814%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. </SPAN>\n" );
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