document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=295662>Question 295662</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If I am going to solve a problem by completing the square, how would I know what to add to both sides? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #213092 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><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=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=213092\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> After you have reduced the coefficient of x^2 to 1 then you take the coefficient of x. Now take half of it and then square it<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For example<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2+2x=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Take the 2 of 2x and take half of it. That equals 1. Square it. That also equals 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add 1 to both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+1)^2=9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Take the square root of both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+1=+-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-1+3=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-1-3=-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=(2,-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We could have factored x^2+2x-8=0 into (x-2)*(x+4)=0<BR>\n" );
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