Steps if you have ax^2+bx+c=0 1. put vairable on other side (-c from both sides) 2. make sure that leading term is 1 (ax^2+bx+c=0 where a=1) 3. take half of b and square it
so a^2+14a-51=0 move c to other side add 51 to both sides a^2+14a=51 leading term is 1 take 1/2 of b and square 14/2=7, 7^2=49 add that to both sides a^2+14a+49=51+49 factor perfect square (a+7)^2=100 square root both sides a+7=+/-10
