Final answer:
Completing the square for an expression involves simplifying and factorizing, while completing the square to solve an equation is used to find the values of the variable that satisfy the equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Completing the square for an expression and completing the square to solve an equation are similar in that they both involve manipulating the equation to create a perfect square. However, they differ in their objectives.
Completing the square for an expression is used to simplify and factorize the expression. It is often used to convert a quadratic expression into the form (x + a)² + b.
Completing the square to solve an equation is used to find the values of the variable that satisfy the equation. It is used to solve quadratic equations by rewriting them in the form (x + a)² = c, and then taking the square root of both sides to find the possible values of x.