How do you solve 2x2+12x14=0 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2017

x=7XXorXXx=+1

Explanation:

2x2+12x14=0

2x2+12x=14

x2+6x=7

Now to "complete the square":
If x2+6x are the first two terms of the expansion of a squared binomial: (x+a)2=x2+2ax+a2
then 2ax must equal 6x;
that is a=3 and a2=9

To "complete the square" we must add 9 to the expression,
but we can only legally do this if we add 9 to both sides of the equation:
XXXx2+6x+9=7+9

XXX(x+3)2=16

XXXx+3=±4

XXXx=3±4

XXXwhich can be written as: x=7XorXx=1