document.write( "Question 209416: solve by completing square 4 x^2 - 8x - 2 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #158331 by Earlsdon(6294) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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SOLVE BY COMPLETING THE SQUARE:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"4x%5E2-8x-2+=+0\"$ First, divide both sides by 4 so as to get the $\"x%5E2\"$ coefficient equal to 1.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-2x-1%2F2+=+0\"$ Now add $\"1%2F2\"$ to both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-2x+=+1%2F2\"$ Complete the square in x by adding the square of half the x-coefficient to both sides, that's $\"%28-2%2F2%29%5E2+=+1\"$ :
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-2x%2B1+=+%281%2F2%29%2B1\"$ Simplify.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x-1%29%5E2+=+3%2F2\"$ Take the square root of both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x-1+=+sqrt%283%2F2%29\"$ or $\"x-1+=+-sqrt%283%2F2%29\"$ Finally, add 1 to both sides of each solution.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"highlight%28x+=+1%2Bsqrt%283%2F2%29%29\"$ or $\"highlight%28x+=+1-sqrt%283%2F2%29%29\"$ \r
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