Question

Solve x^2 + 10x + 24 = 0 by completing the square.

Answer 1

This is where I'm stuck...
x^2+10x+24=0
-24 -24
x^2+10x=-24
10/2 =5 ; 5^2=25
x^2+10x+25=-24
+25
x^2+10x+25=1
(x+5)(x+5)=1
(x+5)^2=1

Answer 2

(x+5)^2 = 1
your next step is to get rid of the exponent on x+5. What's the opposite operation to "squaring" something?

Answer 3

square root?

Answer 4

bingo. So the square root of 1 equals x+5. What are the square roots of 1? There are 2 possibilities here

Answer 5

1?

Answer 6

and -1?

Answer 7

yup! so you have
x+5 = 1
and
x+5 = -1
what are the 2 values x can be?

Answer 8

x=-4 and x=-6?

Answer 9

exactly. Good job!

Answer 10

Thank you! :D