• Aug 14th 2010, 10:00 AM
allsmiles
ok so when i am always solving these problems i always mess up on putting the numbers into the A, B, and C areas. well actually, i don't have a problem with putting them in, its only when i am adding and dividing i always mess up. does anyone have any helper notes that would be useful for my problem?

or am i just going to fast, and in that case, there aren't any notes for that.
• Aug 14th 2010, 04:29 PM
helopticor
Use extra parentheses, and write them in first. Assuming you're working in pencil, you should write $\frac{-\left(\phantom{b}\right)\pm\sqrt{\left(\phantom{b} \right)^{2}-4\left(\phantom{a}\right)\left(\phantom{c}\right)} }{2\left(\phantom{a}\right)}$ very large and then stick in the a,b,c, and then start to simplify.
• Aug 14th 2010, 06:00 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by allsmiles
ok so when i am always solving these problems i always mess up on putting the numbers into the A, B, and C areas. well actually, i don't have a problem with putting them in, its only when i am adding and dividing i always mess up. does anyone have any helper notes that would be useful for my problem?

or am i just going to fast, and in that case, there aren't any notes for that.

Maybe you just have to be more careful.
• Aug 14th 2010, 06:01 PM
jgv115
I used to get this problem when I first learnt the quadratic formula. Make sure you work neatly and practice it on a lot of equations and you'll know how to do it with your eyes closed eventually.

Just practice practice.