SOLUTION: Solve by completing the square x^2+2x-3=0 x=

Question 329743: Solve by completing the square
x^2+2x-3=0
x=
Answer by texttutoring(324) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Take half of the b term: (2/1) = 1 and then square it. Add this number after the 2x, but then subtract it after the -3 (so that you are adding zero to the equation overall)

x^2 + 2x + 1 - 3 - 1 = 0

Now you can factor the perfect square trinomial x^2+2x+1 = (x+1)^2

(x+1)^2 - 4 = 0

You could then graph this parabola. It has vertex (-1,-4).

The easier way to solve for the roots is to simply factor the initial equation:

x^2 + 2x - 3 = 0

Ask yourself, what numbers multiply to -3 and add up to 2? 3 and -1:

x^2 + 2x - 3 = 0
(x+3)(x-1) = 0

so x=-3 and x = 1. These are the roots (the two locations where graph crosses the x-axis) of the equation.

Here is a link to the graph of it: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=x^2%2B2x-3%3D0
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