Question

2p^2-15p+8=43 how do you complete the square to this equation

Answer 1

1. You have:

2p²-15p+8=43

2p²-15p-35=0

2. the leading coefficient "a" must be 1. So, you need to divide the terms by 2:

p²-(15p/2)-(35/2)=0

3. Now, you have:

(b/2)²=(15/2/2)²=(15/4)²

p²-15p-(15/4)²=35+(15/4)²
(p-15/4)²=35+225/16

4. Finally, you obtain:

(p-15/4)²=505/16