document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=102555>Question 102555</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0534494498/algebrahomeworkh>Algebra and Trigonometry</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the solutions to the equation x-5/x= 4. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #74577 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=74577\">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-5%2Fx=+4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-5%2Fx=+4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-5=+4x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-5=+4x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply both sides by the LCD x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-4x-5=0+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-4x-5=0+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract 4x from both sides\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Starting with the general quadratic\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the general solution using the quadratic equation is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So lets solve <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-4%2Ax-5=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-4%2Ax-5=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ( notice <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28--4+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-4%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28--4+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-4%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in a=1, b=-4, and c=-5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-4%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-4%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate -4 to get 4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+16-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+16-4%2A1%2A-5+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square -4 to get 16  (note: remember when you square -4, you must square the negative as well. This is because <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-4%29%5E2=-4%2A-4=16 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-4%29%5E2=-4%2A-4=16\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+16%2B20+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+16%2B20+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-4%2A-5%2A1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-4%2A-5%2A1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+36+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+sqrt%28+36+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+6%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+6%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Radicals/simplifying-square-roots.solver> solver</a>)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B-+6%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B-+6%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So now the expression breaks down into two parts\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+%2B+6%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+%2B+6%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%284+-+6%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%284+-+6%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Lets look at the first part:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=10%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=10%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add the terms in the numerator\r<BR>\n" );
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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;\" > Divide\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So one answer is\r<BR>\n" );
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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" );
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document.write( "Now lets look at the second part:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%284+-+6%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%284+-+6%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-2%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-2%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract the terms in the numerator\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So another answer is\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So our solutions are:\r<BR>\n" );
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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;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice when we graph <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-4%2Ax-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-4%2Ax-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and we can see that the roots are <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;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. This verifies our answer<BR>\n" );
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