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44 votes
44 votes
Solve for x x^2 + 6x + 1 = 0

User Shoover
by
2.8k points

1 Answer

16 votes
16 votes

Answer:

x = -.1715 ≈ - .172 or x = -5.83

Explanation:

x² + 6x + 1 = 0

x² + 6x = -1

Complete the square Add to both sides (1/2 of the x-term, then square it.)

x² + 6x + 9 = -1 + 9

(x + 3)(x + 3) = 8

(x + 3)² = 8


\sqrt{(x + 3)^(2) =
√(8)

x + 3 = ±
√(8)

x = -3 ±
√(8)

x = -3 +
√(8) or x = -3 -
√(8)

x = -.1715 ≈ - .172 or x = -5.83

User Bennedich
by
3.0k points