Question

Complete the square: x^2-4x-12

Answer 1

(x - 6)(x + 2) = 0
x = 6
x = -2
Do you follow?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

@nk8522 are you there too?

Answer 4

@nk8522

Answer 5

@blurbendy that isn't completing the square, it's just factoring.

Completing the square means you want to have it in the form of (x+e)^2 +f. The way you do that is you look at your equation ax^2+bx+c. Take the value of b (in this case -4) and divide it by 2 (in this case you get -2). That's the value of e. So your answer will look like

(x-2)^2 + f
expand and you get
x^2 -4x + 4

How can you get that from your original equation? By adding 4 and subtracting 4

x^2-4x-12
=x^2-4x-12+4-4
=x^2-4x+4-16 (simply rearranging and combining the -12 and the -4)
=(x-2)^2-16

Answer 6

dude thanks! this really helps my algebra takes forever to teach us this. @BluFoot you rock. Best Response.

Answer 7

*algebra teacher

Answer 8

@nk8522 are you there?

Answer 9

ya

Answer 10

yo it worked? good

Answer 11

so if you want to tag someone you just put "@" and the name of the person and it should open a tag menu of people online

Answer 12

ya its kinda laggy tho but watevs

Answer 13

haha ikr xD

Answer 14

ok is andrew checking this out?

Answer 15

i sent him the link and anjali as well. i hope he responds ... >.<

Answer 16

i don't know why he seemed so pissed today.