Final answer:
Subtracting 'b/2a' from both sides of a quadratic equation is a step in completing the square, which simplifies the equation to isolate 'x'. It's used after identifying a standard quadratic equation and adjusting it to a form where one side equals zero.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step involved in isolating 'x' in a quadratic equation involves subtracting 'b/2a' from both sides, which is a method used in completing the square.
This process simplifies the equation to make it easier to solve for 'x'.
First, you would want to identify a quadratic equation, usually in the form ax² + bx + c = 0.
To subtract 'b/2a' from each side, you might be aiming to rewrite the equation in the form of a squared binomial on one side, setting you up to apply the square root method to find the solution for 'x'.
If 'b/2a' was added to the equation prior to solve for another variable, you might want to return 'b' to 'denominator status', meaning you would divide both sides by 'b' if solving for 'y'.
When faced with any quadratic equation, it is vital to bring the equation to a form where one side equals zero before attempting to solve for x.
This can involve moving terms from one side of the equation to the other and simplifying where possible.