How do you solve x^2+16x=17x2+16x=17 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Apr 13, 2016

color(green)(x = 1 x=1 , color(green)(x = -17x=17

Explanation:

x^2 + 16x = 17 x2+16x=17

To write the Left Hand Side as a Perfect Square, we add 64 to both sides:

x^2 + 16x + 64 = 17 + 64 x2+16x+64=17+64

x^2 + 2 * x * 8 + 8^2 = 81 x2+2x8+82=81

Using the Identity color(blue)((a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2, we get
(x+8)^2 = 81(x+8)2=81

x + 8 = sqrt81x+8=81 or x +8 = -sqrt81x+8=81

x + 8 = 9x+8=9 or x +8 = -9x+8=9

x = 9 - 8 =1 x=98=1 or x = -9 - 8 x=98

color(green)(x = 1 x=1 or color(green)(x = -17x=17