Question

Jennifer is completing the square to solve the quadratic equation

2 – 1 – 3 = 0.
What should be her first step?
Isolating the constant, -3
adding -3 to both sides of the equation
Isolating the first term, z2
adding -x to both sides of the equation

Answer 1

The first step in completing the square is Isolating the constant -3.

Explanation:

To solve the quadratic equation of the form ax^2+bx+c =0

step 1: Isolate the constant term and keep the x terms together. where 'c' is the constant and 'a', 'b' are coefficients of x terms.

Here, the constant term c= -3. So, the right answer is Isolating the constant, -3

step 2: Convert the x terms in the form of algebraic expression

(a+b)^2= a^2+2ab+b^2 to make a complete square.