How do you solve using the completing the square method 4x^2 + 4x + 1 = 49 ?

3 Answers
May 15, 2018

x=-4 or 3.

Explanation:

4x^2+4x+1=49 can be written as

(2x)^2+2xx(2x)xx1+1^2-49=0

or (2x+1)^2-7^2=0

and using a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b) this becomes

(2x+1+7)(2x+1-7)=0

or (2x+8)(2x-6)=0

and either 2x+8=0 i.e. 2x=-8 and x=-8/2=-4

or 2x-6=0 i.e. 2x=6 and x=6/2=3

May 15, 2018

3, and - 4

Explanation:

  1. Transforming Method
    y = 4x^2 + 4x - 48 = 0
    y = 4(x^2 + x - 12) = 0
    Solve the quadratic equation x^2 + x - 12 = 0, by the new Transforming Method - case a = 1 (Socratic, Google Search)
    Find 2 real roots, that have opposite signs (ac < 0), knowing the sum (-b = -1) and the product (c = -12).
    They are 3 and - 4
  2. Completing the square method.
    4x^2 + 4x = 48
    x^2 + x = 12
    x^2 + x + 1/4 = 12 + 1/4 = 49/4
    (x + 1/2)^2 = 49/4
    x + 1/2 = +- 7/2
    x1 = 7/2 - 1/2 = 6/2 = 3
    x2 = - 7/2 - 1/2 = - 8/2 = - 4
May 15, 2018

x=-4 and x= 3

4(x+1/2)^2-49=0

Explanation:

Given: 4x^2+4x+1=49" "...................Equation(1)

Write as:
4(x^2+4/4 x)+1-49=0 larr As yet no values have changed.

The next step will change things in as much as it introduces a value that is not in the original equation. It is removed by introducing an as yet unknown constant of k. It will turn the introduced value into 0.

4(x^(color(red)(2))+ubrace(4/4)color(white)("d") x)+1-49=0
color(white)("ddddddd")darr
color(white)("dddd")"Halve this."
color(white)("ddddddd")darr
4(xcolor(white)("d")+color(white)("d")1/2color(white)("d"))^(color(red)(2))+k-48=0" "..................Equation(2)

Notice the exponent (color(red)(2)) has been moved outside the bracket, the x from 4/4 x has been removed and that k has been introduced. Also as indicated, the 4/4 has been halved as well.

color(brown)("The above set of steps form the basis for completing the square")

Now we do the correction bit.

Set 4(1/2)^2+k=0color(white)("ddd")=>color(white)("ddd") 1+k=0color(white)("d")=>k=-1

Substitute into Equation(2) giving:

4(x+1/2)^2-1-48=0

4(x+1/2)^2-49=0 larr Completed square form
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Add 49 to both sides

4(x+1/2)^2=49

Divide both sides by 4

(x+1/2)^2=49/4

Square root both sides

x+1/2=+-7/2

Subtract 1/2 from both sides

x=-1/2+-7/2

x=-4 and x= 3

Tony B