How do you solve using the completing the square method x^2+2x-8=0?

1 Answer
Mar 31, 2016

The solutions are:
color(green)(x = 2 ,
color(green)(x = -4

Explanation:

x^2 + 2x- 8 =0

x^2 + 2x = 8

To write the Left Hand Side as a Perfect Square, we add 1 to both sides:

x^2 + 2x + 1 = 8 + 1

x^2 + 2* x * 1 + 1 = 9

Using the Identity color(blue)((a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2, we get

(x+1)^2 = 9

x + 1 = sqrt9 or x + 1 = -sqrt9

color(green)(x = 3 -1 = 2 or color(green)(x = -3 - 1 = -4