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To complete the square, make sure all the variable terms are on one side of the equation. Then, divide both sides of the equation by a so the coefficient of x^2 is 1.
7.4, 1.6
We want to solve the quadratic equation by completing the square. Note that all terms with x are on one side of the equation.
x^2 - 9x = - 12
In a quadratic expression, b is the linear coefficient. For the equation above, we have that b=- 9. Let's now calculate ( b2 )^2.
b= - 9
Put minus sign in front of fraction
(- a)^2=a^2
(a/b)^m=a^m/b^m
Calculate power
Next, we will add ( b2 )^2= 814 to both sides of our equation. Then, we will factor the trinomial on the left-hand side, and solve the equation.
LHS+81/4=RHS+81/4
a^2-2ab+b^2=(a-b)^2
Write as a fraction
Add fractions
sqrt(LHS)=sqrt(RHS)
Calculate root
sqrt(a/b)=sqrt(a)/sqrt(b)
LHS+9/2=RHS+9/2
The solutions for this equation are x= 92± sqrt(33)2. Let's separate them into the positive and negative cases.
| x=9/2± sqrt(33)/2 | |
|---|---|
| x_1=9/2 + sqrt(33)/2 | x_2=9/2 - sqrt(33)/2 |
| x_1=9 + sqrt(33)/2 | x_2=9 - sqrt(33)/2 |
| x_1≈ 7.4 | x_2≈ 1.6 |
We found that the solutions of the given equation are x_1≈ 7.4 and x_2≈ 1.6.