How do you solve m2+1.8m1.5=0 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2017

m=0.9+2.31 and m=0.92.31

Explanation:

First: (m+0.9)2=0
Put m + (half of 1.8) in a bracket and square them

This expands to m2+1.8m+0.81. Note that this is almost what we started with - only the c value, 0.81, is wrong. We want it to be -1.5, so we adjust for this by subtracting 0.81 and 1.5

This makes it
(m+0.9)2(0.81+1.5)=0
(m+0.9)22.31=0

Now move the -2.31 to the other side
(m+0.9)2=2.31

Square root both sides
m+0.9=±2.31

Move the 0.9 to rhs
m=0.9±2.31