Question

What number needs to be added to both sides to complete the square? Enter your answer in the box.

X2 + 26x = 10

Your Answer:
(The answer cannot have any symbols in it, only numbers)

Answer 1

To complete the square in the equation x^2 + 26x = 10, we need to find a number that can be added to both sides of the equation. This number will allow us to rewrite the left side of the equation as a perfect square trinomial.

To find this number, we can take half of the coefficient of the x term (26) and square it.

Half of 26 is 13, and when we square 13, we get 169.

Therefore, to complete the square in the equation x^2 + 26x = 10, we need to add 169 to both sides of the equation.

After adding 169 to both sides, the equation becomes:

x^2 + 26x + 169 = 10 + 169

Simplifying further, we get:

x^2 + 26x + 169 = 179

Now, the left side of the equation can be factored as a perfect square trinomial:

(x + 13)^2 = 179

So, the number that needs to be added to both sides to complete the square is 169.

Explanation: