How do you solve x24x9=0 by completing the square?

2 Answers
Jun 6, 2017

x=2±13

Explanation:

to complete the square

add (12coefficient of x-term)2 to both sides

that is add (42)2=4 to both sides

x24x+49=0+4

(x2)29=4

(x2)2=13

take the square root of both sides

(x2)2=±13 note plus or minus

x2=±13

x=2±13

or x5.6,x1.6 to 1 decimal place

Jun 6, 2017

x=+5.606orx=1.606

Explanation:

x24x9=0

To complete the square means exactly what it says...

"make an expression into a perfect square by adding the part that is missing..."

The steps are given, refer to the details of the working below:

In ax2+bx+c=0

1: 1x24x 9=0

2: x24x =9

3: x24x +4=9+4

4: (x2)2 =13

5: x2 =±13

6: xwwwwwww=+13+2=+5.606
6: xwwwwwww=13+2=1.606

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  • Step 1: Make a=1 (a is already equal to 1 )

  • Step 2: Move the constant to the other side.

  • Step 3: complete the square by adding (b2)2 to both sides.
    In this case b=4 so, (42)2=(2)2=+4

  • Step 4: Write the LHS as the square of a binomial

  • Step 5: square root both sides remember ±
  • Step 6: solve for x to get 2 values