Question

Which of the following constants can be added to x2 - 3x to form a perfect square trinomial?
3/4
1 1/2
2 1/4

Answer 1

"Which of the following constants can be added to x² – 3x to form a perfect square trinomial?
3/4, or 1(1/2), or 2(1/4)

A:

As the offered answers have been presented? None of them!

Now if by:

• "1(1/2)" you meant "1½"

• "2 (1/4)" you meant "2¼"

Ahhhh! That changes things A LOT!

IF
––– that is what you meant
THEN
––– 2¼ is correct

... and here is why:

x² – 3x + (?)² = [ x – ?]² = x² – 2(x)(?) + ?²

"?" must be such that (–2)(x)(?) = –3x ➞ (–2)(?) = –3 ➞ ? = –3/(–2) = 3/2

So (3/2)² = 9/4 = 2¼


Hope this helps!

Answer 2

9/4