How do you solve r29r38=9 by completing the square?

1 Answer
May 19, 2015

Given r29r38=9

First add 9 to both sides to get:

r29r29=0

Then

0=r29r29

=r29r+81481429

=(r92)2(814+29)

=(r92)2(814+1164)

=(r92)21974

Adding 1974 to both ends of this equation, we find:

(r92)2=1974

So:

r92=±1974=±1974=±1972

Add 92 to both sides to get:

r=92±1972=9±1972

In general:

ar2+br+c=a(r+b2a)2+(cb24a)

which is zero when

a(r+b2a)2=(b24ac)=b24ac4a

and hence

(r+b2a)2=b24ac4a2

so

r+b2a=±b24ac4a2=±b24ac4a2

=±b24ac2a

Subtracting b2a from both sides we get:

r=b2a±b24ac2a=b±b24ac2a

Does that look familiar?