document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1058046>Question 1058046</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If x=3 or -4 are the solutions of the equation x^2+ax+b=0. Find the value of a and b. <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 #673076 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solve_for_x><B>solve_for_x(190)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solve_for_x><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=673076\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Substituting x = 3 in the equation gives:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "9 + 3a + b = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then substituting x = -4 into the equation gives:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "16 - 4a + b = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Subtracting the first equation from the second gives:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(16 - 9) + (-4a - 3a) + (b - b) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "7 - 7a = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "7a = 7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a = 1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substituting a = 1 into 9 + 3a + b = 0 then gives:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "9 + 3(1) + b = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "12 + b = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b = -12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solution: a = 1, b = -12<BR>\n" );
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