Question

What value is needed to complete the square?
X²-2x + _______

Answer 1

`X^2-2x+1`

Explanation:

Traditional pattern for a perfect square:

`x^(2) +2ax+a^(2)`

Which factors into:
`(x+a)^2`

We know becuase a is "missing" from the original equation that it must equal 1; therefore:

`x^2+2x+1`

Which we know is correct because it factors into:
`(x+1)^2`