How Does Substituting u=\alpha^2 Simplify Solving Quadratics?

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http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/equationu.png/
I'm not understand this simple step.
Btw, this isn't technically a homework question so I think it should be fine posting it here.

Thanks
 
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Let u=\alpha^2 and then solve for u via the quadratic formula. It'll come out plain as day.
 

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