Question

PLEASE HELP ME !!!

x² + 12x -
2
8 can be written in the form
(x + a)² + b, where a and b are numbers.
Work out the values of a and b.

Answer 1

a = 6 , b = - 44

Explanation:

x² + 12x - 8

using the method of completing the square

add/subtract ( half the coefficient of the x- term)² from x² + 12x

x² + 2(6)x + 36 - 36 - 8

= (x + 6)² - 44 ← in the form (x + a)² + b

with a = 6 and b = - 44