How do you solve by completing the square x2+2x5=0?

1 Answer
Jun 30, 2015

Force a perfect square trinomial on the left side. Take the square root of both sides. Solve for x, which will have two values.

Explanation:

Completing the square involves forcing a perfect square trinomial on the left side of the equation, then solving for x.

The form for a perfect square is a2+2ab+b2=(a+b)2.

x2+2x5=0.

Add 5 to both sides of the equation.

x2+2x=5

Divide the coefficient of the x value by 2, then square the result.

22=1; 12=1

Add the result to both sides.

x2+2x+1=5+1 =

x2+2x+1=6

The left side is now a perfect square trinomial.

x2+2x+1=(x+1)2

(x+1)2=6

Take the square root on both sides.

x+1=±6

Subtract 1 from both sides.

x=61

x=61