Question

to solve by completing the square, what value should i add to each side of the equation:
x^2+16x=-1 i chose 1...is that correct?

Answer 1

no... that left side needs to "become" a perfect square trinomial...

Answer 2

64

Answer 3

?

Answer 4

yes.. that's what's needed to make the left side a perfect square trinomial...
so the right side will be -1 + 64 = ???

Answer 5

63

Answer 6

ok...
so you have:
\(\large x^2+16x+64=63 \)
\(\large (x+??)^2=63 \)

what goes in place of ???

Answer 7

8

Answer 8

\(\large (x+8)^2=63 \)

take the square root of both sides and isolate the x...