Question

When solving x2 + 6x = 10 by the completing the square method, what value is added to both sides?

9

5

4

3

Answer 1

to complete the square, we would take half the coefficient of the x-term (not the x squared term) and add it to both sides. half the coefficient 6 is 3, so if we then square 3 the result is 9.

Answer 2

if we wanted to go ahead and finish solving for x, we could simplify the right side to look like (x+3)^2 = 19, then apply the square root property to both sides which would give us x+3 = +/- sqrt(19), then transpose the 3 to the left side for a final result of x = -3 +/- sqrt(19)