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19 votes
NEED HELP NOW!!!!!!!!Find the number that should be added to the expression to create a perfect square trinomial. x^2-8x-161664-64

User Blwinters
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1 Answer

9 votes
9 votes

From a perfect square trinomial


a^2+2ab+b^2

We know that:


2ab=2\cdot\sqrt[]{a^2}\cdot\sqrt[]{b^2}

Now, let's use this for the trinomial given:


x^2-8x+b^2

We know that:


-8x=2\cdot x\cdot b^2

Solving for b,


\begin{gathered} -8x=2xb \\ \rightarrow b=-(8x)/(2x)\Rightarrow b=-4 \end{gathered}

This way, the complete perfect square trinomial is:


x^2-8x-16

Ans: Option A

User Russo
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