Date: 6/3/96 at 3:2:23 From: Anonymous Subject: Learning Algebra How do you solve for: x(x+1) + 2 (x + 1) = ? I have been trying to do this for a long time but I still can't do it. I am not so good at algebra. Could you teach me algebra? I hope so. Thanks. Hope you can give me the answers soon.
Date: 6/4/96 at 18:5:2 From: Doctor Jodi Subject: Learning Algebra Hi there! This is just a multiplication problem. We multiply x's just as though they were any old number - but the notation is different. When you multiply 5 times 5, you know that you have 25. But when you multiply x times x, you get x squared (written x^2 on the computer). (25 is 5 squared, also. The difference is that we have to abbreviate since we don't know what x is...) x(x+1) is the same as x*x + x*1 or x squared + x 2(x+1) is the same as 2*x + 2*1 or 2x + 2 So x(x+1) + 2(x+1) = x squared + x + 2x +2 We can add x and 2x to get 3x, and rewrite this as x squared + 3x + 2 Hope this helps. Be patient with yourself while you're learning algebra - you might have to spend more time with the problems for a while, but I'm sure you'll start to get the hang of it in a bit. Let us know if you need more help! -Doctor Jodi, The Math Forum Check out our web site! http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
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