document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=201687>Question 201687</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> solve by completing the square:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b^2-8b-38=10 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #152003 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=152003\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Garamond\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 1:</b>.  Divide both sides by the lead coefficient.  For your problem, the lead coefficient is 1, so there is nothing to do.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 2:</b>.  Add the opposite of the constant term on the left to both sides, i.e., combine the constant terms and put them on the right hand side:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b^2 - 8b\ \ \ \ =\ 48\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 3:</b>.  Divide the coefficient on the 1st degree term by 2 and square the result, adding that value to both sides of the equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \left(\frac{-8}{2}\right)^2 = 16\">, so:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b^2 - 8b + 16\ =\ 64\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 4:</b>.  Factor the perfect square trinomial on the left:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (b - 4)^2 = 64\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 5:</b>.  Take the square root of both sides, remembering to consider both the positive and negative roots.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b - 4 = \pm \sqrt{64} = \pm 8\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<b>Step 6:</b>.  Solve\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b = 4 \pm 8\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b = 12\">, or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE b = -4\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0\"><BR>\n" );
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