Question

A quadratic equation is shown below:

x^2 - 14x + 41 = 0

Which of the following is the first correct step to write the above equation in the form (x - p)^2 = q, where p and q are integers?

Answer 1

Add 8 to both sides of the equation
Add 9 to both sides of the equation
Subtract 8 from both sides of the equation
Subtract 9 from both sides of the equation

Answer 2

@welshfella

Answer 3

Hint:- you need to make the left side a perfect square so the last term must be a perfect square

Answer 4

- also when the trinomial is expanded the second term must be -14x

Answer 5

add 8 to both sides?

Answer 6

right
- to give 49 as the last term on LHS which will also give the -14x

Answer 7

thanks!

Answer 8

yw

Answer 9

can you help me with one more?

Answer 10

ok

Answer 11

What are the exact solutions of x^2 - 3x - 1 = 0?

Answer 12

this is an exercise in completing the square
first divide the coefficient of x ( that us the -3) by 2 and write
x^2 - 3x - 1 = ( x - 1.5)^2 -2.25 - 1 = 0

the -2.25 comes from when you square -1.5 it becomes 2.25 so you have to subtract 2.25 to square things up

Answer 13

so
(x - 1.5)^2 = 3.25

Answer 14

my answer was the first one

Answer 15

Oh they want the answer as a fraction so i'll change it to fractions.

Answer 16

lets check it....

Answer 17

okay

Answer 18

no i dont get that
lets see
x - 3/2 = +/- sqrt13/2
= 3/2 + sqrt13/2 or 3/2 - sqrt13/2

= 3 +/- sqrt13
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2

Answer 19

so C?

Answer 20

yes