document.write( "Question 535550: I have a problem that starts with this equation:
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-2x-3=0
\n" ); document.write( "The next part of the equation is to move the constant to the right side of the equation.
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-2x-3+3=0+3
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-2x=3
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-2(x)=3
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-2+2x=3+2
\n" ); document.write( "x=5
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #351929 by fcabanski(1391)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It looks like you were completing the square, but incorrectly.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Step 1 is divide by the coefficient of x^2. It's 1, so that doesn't change the equation.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Step 2 is move the constant to the other side. You did that correctly.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 -2x = 3

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Step 3 is take 1/2 the coefficient of x, square it and add that to both sides. The coefficient of x is -2, 1/2 that is -1, squared it's 1.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 -2x + 1 = 4

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Step 4 is factor the left side. It will always be x then the sign of the original coefficient of z which in this case is -, then the number you added to both sides in step 3 (in this example it's 1). That whole thing is squared.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-1)^2 = 4 Take the square root of both sides

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x-1 = + or - sqrt(4) = + or - 2.

Add 1 to both sides.

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 1 + or - 2 = 3 or -1. \n" ); document.write( "

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