document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1184587>Question 1184587</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The value of a in the standard form of the equation (x + 7)² - 6 = 5° </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #815233 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=815233\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "IF by standard form you mean<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "y=ax^2+bx+c<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "then the question can be answered.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note, however, that the standard form for a quadratic is not always expressed in that form. So it is technically a defective post if you simply ask for the value of a.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And if you are indeed talking about that standard form, there is no need to expand and/or simplify the entire equation.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "a is the coefficient of the x^2 term and is simply the product of the constant coefficient (if any) and the coefficients of the x terms in each binomial factor.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In your example the constant coefficient is 1, and there are two binomial factors, both of which have coefficient 1.  So the value of a is<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1)(1)(1) = 1.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: a=1<br><BR>\n" );
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