document.write( "Question 823356: How do I complete a square? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #495445 by erica65404(394) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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You usually are given the equation $\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc=0\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "The first thing you do is take half of b and square it $\"%28b%2F2%29%5E2\"$ . Then you add this to both sides. $\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc%2B%28b%2F2%29%5E2=%28b%2F2%29%5E2\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "When you factor it you would get $\"%28x%2B%28b%2F2%29%29%5E2%2Bc=%28b%2F2%29%5E2\"$ . Then you would move the $\"%28b%2F2%29%5E2\"$ to the left side.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2B%28b%2F2%29%29%5E2%2Bc-%28b%2F2%29%5E2=0\"$ \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "example:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2%2B8x%2B3=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( "take half of 8 and square it, then add this number to both sides of the equation.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2%2B8x%2B16%2B3=16\"$
\n" ); document.write( "This becomes $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2%2B3=16\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Then move the 16 to the left side
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2-13=0\"$
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