How do you find all the zeros of f(x)=x2+6x+18?

1 Answer
Mar 10, 2016

Complete the square and use the difference of squares identity to find zeros:

x=3±3i

Explanation:

Complete the square then use the difference of squares identity:

a2b2=(ab)(a+b)

with a=(x+3) and b=3i as follows:

f(x)=x2+6x+18

=x2+6x+9+9

=(x+3)2+32

=(x+3)2(3i)2

=((x+3)3i)((x+3)+3i)

=(x+33i)(x+3+3i)

Hence f(x)=0 when x=3±3i