How do you solve x^2-6x-5=0 by completing the square?

2 Answers
May 31, 2018

x=3+sqrt(14) or x=3-sqrt(14)

Explanation:

Writing
x^2-2*3x+9-5-9
This is
(x-3)^2=14
|x-3|=sqrt(14)
so we get
x=3+sqrt(14)
in the other case

-x+3=sqrt(14)
x=3-sqrt(14)

May 31, 2018

x = +-14+3

x = +sqrt14 +3 =6.74 or x = -0.74

Explanation:

x^2 -6x-5=0
x^2 -6x" "=5" "larr move the constant to the right side.

Complete the square by adding color(red)((-6/2)^2) to both sides

x^2 -6xcolor(red)(+9) =5 color(red)(+9)

" "(x-3)^2 = 14" "larr write as the square of a binomial

" "x-3 = +-sqrt14" "larr square root both sides.

x = +-14+3" "larr isolate x

This gives two solutions for x:

x = +sqrt14 +3 =6.74 or x = -0.74