document.write( "Question 103588: Solve by using the quadratic formula. x^2 – 9x + 20 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #75307 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Solved by pluggable solver: Quadratic Formula
Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x:

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\n" ); document.write( " Starting with the general quadratic
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\n" ); document.write( " \"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\"
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\n" ); document.write( " the general solution using the quadratic equation is:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( " So lets solve \"x%5E2-9%2Ax%2B20=0\" ( notice \"a=1\", \"b=-9\", and \"c=20\")
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%28--9+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-9%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A20+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Plug in a=1, b=-9, and c=20
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-9%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A20+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Negate -9 to get 9
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+sqrt%28+81-4%2A1%2A20+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Square -9 to get 81 (note: remember when you square -9, you must square the negative as well. This is because \"%28-9%29%5E2=-9%2A-9=81\".)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+sqrt%28+81%2B-80+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Multiply \"-4%2A20%2A1\" to get \"-80\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+sqrt%28+1+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+1%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B-+1%29%2F2\" Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2
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\n" ); document.write( " So now the expression breaks down into two parts
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x+=+%289+%2B+1%29%2F2\" or \"x+=+%289+-+1%29%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Lets look at the first part:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=%289+%2B+1%29%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=10%2F2\" Add the terms in the numerator
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=5\" Divide
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\n" ); document.write( " So one answer is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=5\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Now lets look at the second part:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=%289+-+1%29%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=8%2F2\" Subtract the terms in the numerator
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=4\" Divide
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\n" ); document.write( " So another answer is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=4\"
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\n" ); document.write( " So our solutions are:
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\n" ); document.write( " \"x=5\" or \"x=4\"
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