Question

Use completing the square to find the value to add that makes x^2 - 12x a perfect square trinomial. Then write the expression as the square of a binomial.

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

If you want to make

$x^2-12x$

into a perfect square binomial, take half the linear term, square it, then add it to both sides.  Our linear term is 12.  Half of 12 is 6, and 6 squared is 36.

The value that makes this a perfect square binomial is 36.

Writing the expression as a square of the binomial is:

$(x^2-12x+36)-->(x-6)^2$