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Mathematics 8 Online
OpenStudy (shaleiah):

Please help

OpenStudy (shaleiah):

(complete the square)

OpenStudy (mathstudent55):

When you have an polynomial to complete the square, and the coefficient of the x^2 term is 1, like you have, all you need to do is this: 1. Divide the x-term coefficient by 2. 2. Square it. 3. Add it to the polynomial.

OpenStudy (mathstudent55):

Example: Complete the square of \(x^2 -8x \) 1. Divide -8 by 2 to get -4 2. Square -4 to get 16 3. Add 16 to the given polynomial to get \(x^2 - 8x + 16\), which can now be written as \((x - 4)^2\).

OpenStudy (shaleiah):

\[\frac{ -18 }{ 2 }^2=81\]

OpenStudy (shaleiah):

@mathstudent55 is this correct?

OpenStudy (mathstudent55):

You did it correctly but wrote it incorrectly. You meant: \(\left(-\dfrac{18}{2}\right)^2 = (-9)^2 = 81\)

OpenStudy (mathstudent55):

Now you add 81 to the given expression. The polynomial \(x^2 - 18x + 81 \) is the square of the binomial \(x - 9\).

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