How do you solve using the completing the square method x^2-4x+2=0?

1 Answer
Apr 11, 2017

y=(x-2)^2-2

Explanation:

The completing the square form is:
y=(x+a)^2+b

The "a" term will be equal to the middle term divided by two. I.e. -4/2=-2.

This means that you now have the following:

y=(x-2)^2+b

Because the completing the square form is equivalent to your original equation you have:

x^2−4x+2=(x-2)^2+b
x^2−4x+2=x^2-4x+4+b <-- I expanded the right-hand side
b=-2 <--After simplifying you can find the "b"-term