SOLUTION
Finding the missing number that makes the expression a perfect square.
a) x ^2 - p x + 16, where p is the missing number
comparing with a x^2 + bx + c = 0 ( General Quadratic Equation)
a = 1 , b = -p , c = 16
Using b ^2 = 4ac , we have:
( -p ) ^2 = 4 x 1 x 16
p ^ 2 = 64
square root both sides, we have :
p = 8
b) Finding the missing number that makes the expression a perfect square.
x ^2 + p x - 25 , where p is the missing number
comparing with a x^2 + bx + c = 0 ( General Quadratic Equation)
a = 1 , b = p , c = - 25
Using b ^2 = 4ac , we have:
( p ) ^2 = 4 x 1 x -25
p ^2 = - 100
square root both sides, we have:
p = 10 i ( where i is an imaginary number )