Question

Solve x2 - 2x = 8 by completing the square.

Answer 1

how do we complete a square?

Answer 2

(x^2-2x+1)-1-8, you take the middle term coefficient in this case -2, split it in half, to get -1, then square it to get one. to keep the equation the same you have to subtract 1 where you add a 1, that is where the -1 outside the parentheiss is from, and dont forget that 8 that was in the equation, you can combine that and the -1 to get (x-1)^2-9

Answer 3

does that help?