Question

Will give fan and medal!!! Write x^2 - 2x - 3 = 0 in the form (x - a)^2 = b, where a and b are integers.

Answer 1

(x - 4)^2 = 3
(x - 3)^2 = 2
(x - 2)^2 = 1
(x - 1)^2 = 4

Answer 2

What do you think the answer is?

Answer 3

(x - 3)^2 = 2 or (x - 1)^2 = 4 @tom982

Answer 4

It's neither of those. For an quadratic x^2+bx+c, to write it in completed square format we say it's (x+0.5b)^2+c-0.5b^2. In your equation, b=-2 and c=-3, sub these numbers in for your answer.

Answer 5

(x+0.5(-2))^2+(-3)-0.5(-2)^2 like this?

Answer 6

Exactly like that :)

Answer 7

so now solve it, right?

Answer 8

Would it be (x - 4)^2 = 3 by any chance?

Answer 9

@tom982

Answer 10

@ganeshie8 @jim_thompson5910

Answer 11

@tom982

Answer 12

How have you gone from (x+0.5(-2))^2 to (x-4)^2?