How do you solve x^2+8x=20x2+8x=20 using completing the square?

2 Answers
Jun 19, 2018

(x+4)^2-16=20(x+4)216=20

(x+4)^2=36(x+4)2=36

Square root both sides

x+4=\pm6x+4=±6

x+4=6 or x+4=-6x+4=6orx+4=6

x=2 or x=-10x=2orx=10

Jun 19, 2018

x=2x=2 and x=-10x=10

Explanation:

When we complete the square, we want to take half of our bb value, square it, and add it to the left side. Doing this, we get

x^2+8x+color(blue)(16)=20+color(blue)(16)x2+8x+16=20+16

1616 is the value (8/2)^2(82)2. Notice, we add it to both sides to maintain the equality.

Our equation can be further simplified as

(x+4)^2=36(x+4)2=36

Taking the square root of both sides, we get

x+4=6x+4=6 and x+4=-6x+4=6

Solving these equations gives us

x=2x=2 and x=-10x=10

Hope this helps!