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Solve by transforming into a perfect square trinomial

x squared-14x=15

User Nathifa
by
6.5k points

1 Answer

1 vote
x^2 - 14 x = 15

(x - 7)^2 - 49 = 15

(x-7)^2 = 64

x - 7 = - or + 8

x = 15 or -1

Just take half o the coefficient of x and subtract it squared as above.

In general

x^2 + ax = b

(x + a/2)^2 - a^2/4 = b

User Ckluss
by
6.7k points
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