<PRE><B>Question 702540</B>
x^2 + 2x - 24 = 0
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x^2 + 2x + ? = 24 + ?
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x^2 + 2x + 1 = 24+1
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(x+1)^2 = 25
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x+1 = 5 or x+1 = -5
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x = 4 or x = -6
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Cheers,
Stan H.
</PRE>