Question

A quadratic equation is shown below: x2 − 8x 13 = 0 which of the following is the first correct step to write the above equation in the form (x − p)2 = q, where p and q are integers?

a. subtract 5 from both sides of the equation
b. subtract 3 from both sides of the equation
c. add 5 to both sides of the equation
d. add 3 to both sides of the equation

Answer 1

Add 3 to both sides, so you will have

x^2 - 8x + 13 + 3 = 3

x^2 -8x + 16 = 3

And now the left side is a perfect square trinolmial: (x-4)^2.