document.write( "Question 347531: Solve by completing the square\r
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document.write( "x^2-2x-5=0 \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #248445 by fractalier(6550)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Okay from \n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 2x - 5 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "we group our terms like this \n" ); document.write( "(x^2 - 2x + something) - 5 = 0 + something \n" ); document.write( "The \"something\" is always half of the middle term's coefficient squared...here it is 1. \n" ); document.write( "so we have \n" ); document.write( "(x^2 - 2x + 1) - 5 = 0 + 1 \n" ); document.write( "(x - 1)^2 - 5 = 1 \n" ); document.write( "(x - 1)^2 = 6 \n" ); document.write( "take square root of both sides now \n" ); document.write( "x - 1 = +/- sqrt(6) \n" ); document.write( "x = 1 +/- sqrt(6) \n" ); document.write( " |