How do you solve 6x^2 + 13x = 56x2+13x=5 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Aug 1, 2016

x = 1/3 , orx = -5/2x=13,orx=52

Explanation:

For ease of explanation - remember that the general form of a quadratic is color(red)ax^2 + color(blue)bx + color(magenta)cax2+bx+c

color(red)(6)x^2 + 13x = 56x2+13x=5

The constant (c) has already been moved to the RHS.

We need to make the LHS into the square of a binomial (ie a perfect square)

Step 1. color(red)aa must be equal to 1. Divide through by 6.

(cancel6x^2)/cancel6 + (color(blue)13x)/color(blue)6 = 5/6

Step 2: complete the square by adding the missing third term (to both sides)

(color(blue)b/2)^2 " "rArr ((color(blue)13)/(color(blue)6 xx2))^2 " "rArr (13/12)^2

x^2 + (color(blue)13x)/color(blue)6 + (13/12)^2 = 5/6 + (13/12)^2

Step 3. Write as (x + ....)^2

(x + (13)/12)^2 = 289/144

Step 4: square root both sides.

x + 13/12 = +-sqrt(289/144)

x = 17/12 -13/12 " " or x = (-17/12)- 13/12

x = 4/12 = 1/3" or " x = (-30)/12 =-5/2