Question

The first three steps of completing the square to solve the quadratic equation x^2+4x-6=0 are shown below.

Step 1: x^2+4x=6
Step 2: x^2+4x+4=6+4
Step 3: (x+2)^2=10

What are the next 3 steps?

Answer 1

Take the sqrt of both sides of (x+2)^2=10:

x+2 = plus or minus sqrt(10)

Solve for x: x = -2 plus or minus sqrt(10)

Evaluate x: x = -2 + sqrt(10) AND x = -2 - sqrt(10) (answers)