To complete the square:
1) Move the "non-x" term to the right.
It's already there.
2) Divide the equation by the coefficient of x^2.
It's already done. Coefficient of x^2 is 1.
3) <span>• take the coefficient of X
this is -2
• divide it by 2
-2 / 2 =-1
• square that number
-1^2 = 1
• then add it to both sides of the equation.
x^2 -2x = 24
x^2 -2x +1 = 25
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<span>4) take the square root of both sides of the equation (remember that each square root has TWO solutions).
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<span>Taking the square root of
x^2 -2x +1 = 25
equals
(x -1) = 5 AND
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<span>(x -1) = -5
So, x = 6 and
x = -4
Source:
http://www.1728.org/quadr2.htm
(See first half of page).
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