document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=111355>Question 111355</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> In the following problem I am trying to solve for x but something isnt working right when I go back tocheck my work. The following are the ways that I tried but it back fired. Can you please assist. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "the equation is {x^2-7x-3=0}\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This is what I have<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-7x-3=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-6x^2-3=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-9x=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-7x-3=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7x^2+3=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10x^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I know that both are wrong but cant get the right answer, can you please advise me as to what I am doing wrong? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you so much!! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #81190 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=81190\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The main problem you are having is that you are combining terms. You <b>cannot</b> add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-6x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-6x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > since they are different terms. So you either have to factor (which doesn't work all of the time) or use the quadratic formula (which works for any quadratic formula).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " <TR><TD  ALIGN=MIDDLE>Solved by <A  rel=nofollow HREF=http://wiki.algebra.com/index.php/Tutoring_-_pluggable_solvers>pluggable</A> solver: <A  rel=nofollow HREF=quadratic_formula.solver>Quadratic Formula</A></TD></TR>\n" );
document.write( "<TR><TD  ALIGN=LEFT>Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x:<BR><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Starting with the general quadratic<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;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  the general solution using the quadratic equation is:<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;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So lets solve <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-7%2Ax-3=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-7%2Ax-3=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=-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28--7+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-7%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28--7+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-7%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in a=1, b=-7, and c=-3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-7%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-7%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate -7 to get 7<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+49-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+49-4%2A1%2A-3+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square -7 to get 49  (note: remember when you square -7, you must square the negative as well. This is because <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-7%29%5E2=-7%2A-7=49 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-7%29%5E2=-7%2A-7=49\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+49%2B12+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+49%2B12+%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-3%2A1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-4%2A-3%2A1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+61+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%28+61+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%2861%29%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>)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B-+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So now the expression breaks down into two parts<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+%2B+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+%2B+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%287+-+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%287+-+sqrt%2861%29%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Now break up the fraction<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%2B7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%2B7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%2B7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%2B7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  Simplify<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  So the solutions are:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7%2F2%2Bsqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=7%2F2-sqrt%2861%29%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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