Make equal to zero x^2-4x=2x+24 minus 2x both sides x^2-4x-2x=24 minus 24 x^2-6x-24=0 comlpete the square isolate x^2 and x term (x^2-6x)-24=0 take 1/2 of -6 and square it (-6/2=-3 (-3)^2=9) and add to both sides inside parethaes (x^2-6x+9)-24=9 factor perfect square (x-3)^2-24=9 add 24 both sides (x-3)^2=33 sqrt both sides x-3=+/-√33 add 3 to both sides x=3+/-√33
