What number would you have to add to both sides to complete the square?

x(2) – 14x = 7

Question

What number would you have to add to both sides to complete the square?

x(2) – 14x = 7

anonymous · Answer

what is half of 14?

anonymous · Answer

that is not the answer, that is step one

anonymous · Answer

7

anonymous · Answer

find half of 14 and then square it.  That's what you add to both sides

anonymous · Answer

so it would be 196

mathstudent55 · Answer

To complete the square, you must have an equation of the form x^2 + bx + c = 0, which you have. Just do what was written above. Divide the coefficient of the x-term by 2. Then square that.

anonymous · Answer

no $7^2=49$

mathstudent55 · Answer

You need the square of 7, not of 14.

anonymous · Answer

ok so the answer is 49

mathstudent55 · Answer

If the equation has the form
ax^2 + bx + c = 0, where a is not 1, then you need to first divide both sides by a.

For example, if you had
2x^2 + 24x + 4 = 0
Then you would first divide the entire equation by 2, the coefficient of the x^2 term.
Then you can continue with dividing the x-term coefficient by 2 and squaring it.

mathstudent55 · Answer

Yes, in this case, the answer is 49.

anonymous · Answer

thankyou mathstudent55