document.write( "Question 33311This question is from textbook Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide
\n" ); document.write( ": I am stuck on the following quadratic equation:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2x^2-3x-1=0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I move the 1 over like this:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2x^2-3x=1\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and that's where I get stuck: how do you create a third term to the left side of the equation like that will later generate -3x? Do you take square half the value of the second term? (-3x / 2)^2, which results in 9/4x?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thanks so much for your help. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #19709 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solving by completing the square:
\n" ); document.write( "Divide by 2 to get:
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-(3/2)x =1/2
\n" ); document.write( "Complete the square on the left side and preserve the equality, as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-(3/2)x+(3/4)^2= 1/2 + (3/4)^2
\n" ); document.write( "Factor the left side to get:
\n" ); document.write( "[x-(3/4)]^2= 17/16
\n" ); document.write( "Take the square root of both sides to get:
\n" ); document.write( " x-(3/4) = (sqrt17)/4)or x-(3/4)= -(sqrt17)/4
\n" ); document.write( "x=[3+sqrt17]/4 or x=[3-sqrt17]/4
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.\r
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