document.write( "Question 203133: Solve by completing the square
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - x - 1 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Thanks \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #153276 by Earlsdon(6294) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solve for x by completing the square:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-x-1+=+0\"$ First add 1 to both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-x+=+1\"$ Now complete the square in x by adding the square of half the x-coefficient ( $\"%28-1%2F2%29%5E2+=+1%2F4\"$ to both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-x%2B1%2F4+=+1%2B1%2F4\"$ Factor the left side and simplify the right side.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x-1%2F2%29%5E2+=+5%2F4\"$ Take the square root of both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x-1%2F2+=+sqrt%285%29%2F2\"$ (+ or -) in front of the sq.rt. Now add $\"1%2F2\"$ to both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"highlight%28x+=+%281%2F2%29%2B-sqrt%285%29%2F2%29\"$ or $\"highlight_green%28x+=+%281%2B-sqrt%285%29%29%2F2%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );