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5 votes
Solve the quadratic equation by completing the square.

Solve the quadratic equation by completing the square.-example-1
User Rocky Hu
by
4.8k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Answer:

x = - 1, x = 8

Explanation:

Given

x² - 7x - 8 = 0 ( add 8 to both sides )

x² - 7x = 8

To complete the square

add ( half the coefficient of the x- term )² to both sides

x² + 2(-
(7)/(2) )x +
(49)/(4) = 8 +
(49)/(4) =
(81)/(4)

(x -
(7)/(2) )² =
(81)/(4) ( take the square root of both sides )

x -
(7)/(2) = ±
\sqrt{(81)/(4) } = ±
(9)/(2) ( add
(7)/(2) to both sides )

x =
(7)/(2) ±
(9)/(2)

Thus

x =
(7)/(2) -
(9)/(2) =
(-2)/(2) = - 1

x =
(7)/(2) +
(9)/(2) =
(16)/(2) = 8

User Nazra
by
4.8k points
4 votes

Answer:

x'1 = -1

x'2 = 8

Explanation:

User Kander
by
4.1k points