SOLUTION: Please help me solve this equation: x^2+5x-11/4=0 It is called "completing the square" and has to do with solving quadratic equations.

Question 196845This question is from textbook McDougal Littell Algebra 1
: Please help me solve this equation: x^2+5x-11/4=0
It is called "completing the square" and has to do with solving quadratic equations. This question is from textbook McDougal Littell Algebra 1

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To solve this, let's first complete the square:

Start with the left side of the given equation.

Take half of the coefficient to get . In other words, .

Now square to get . In other words,

Now add and subtract . Make sure to place this after the "x" term. Notice how . So the expression is not changed.

Group the first three terms.

Factor to get .

Combine like terms.

So after completing the square, transforms to . So .

So is equivalent to .

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Now let's solve

Start with the given equation.

Add to both sides.

Combine like terms.

Take the square root of both sides.

or Break up the "plus/minus" to form two equations.

or Take the square root of to get .

or Subtract from both sides.

or Combine like terms.

--------------------------------------

Answer:

So the solutions are or .
RELATED QUESTIONS
Please help me solve this equation: x^2+3/5x-1=0 It is called completing the square... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Please help me solve this equation: 4x^2+4x-11=0 It is called "completing the square"... (answered by stanbon)

Please help me solve this equation: x^2+11x+21/4=0 It is called completing the square... (answered by Mathtut)

Please help me solve this equation: 5x^2-20x-20=5 It is called completing the square... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Please help me solve this equation: 4x^2+6x-6=2 It is called completing the square and (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Could someone please help me with this equation? Solve this quadratic equation by... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Could you please help me solve this quadratic equation using completing the square... (answered by Alan3354)

I submitted a similar problem earlier, but it had a typo and could not be understood. I'm (answered by Alan3354)

Please help me solve this equation 5-5 Completing the Square Solving a... (answered by jim_thompson5910)