IT took me a while to learn how to flip flapjacks. In fact, a+1/a=6, then the value of a^2 + 1/a^2 is the number of attempts it took me. How many attempts did it take me?

A. 34
B. 35
C. 36
D. 38

I don't know how to do it, I'm assuming that 1 1/a =6, but I'm wrong I think. help!

We're going to perform operations on a + 1/a = 6 until we arrive at a^2 + 1/a^2.

Square both sides.
(a + 1/a)^2 = 6^2
a^2 + a*1/1 + a*1/a + 1/a^2 = 36
a^2 + 2 + 1/a^2 = 36
a^2 + 1/a^2 = 36 - 2
a^2 + 1/a^2 = 34

Hope this helps~ `u`