How do I solve x2+12x=27 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Aug 29, 2014

x2+12x=27

Take the co-efficient of the middle x term and half it

122=6

Square that number and add and subtract it from the equation
This gives the perfect square component.

62=36

x2+12x+(36)(36)=27

Then factorise it, the first three terms form a perfect square

(x+6)236=27

Simplify left over numbers

(x+6)2=9

Now we solve for x

Square root both sides to get rid of the power

(x+6)=±3
x=±36
x=36 or x=36
x=3 or x=9