document.write( "Question 904561: can you help me express the following as (x+a)^2+b the equation is x^2+6x-1 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #548792 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
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you need to complete the squares.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "start with x^2 + 6x - 1\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "take half the coefficient of the x term and use it to form the factors of (x+3)^2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "now take half the coefficient of the x term and square it and subtract it from the result.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you get x^2 + 6x - 1 = (x+3)^2 - 9 - 1 which results in (x+3)^2 - 10.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "if you look at what you did, take (x+3)^2 and perform the operation to get x^2 + 6x + 9\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your equation becomes x^2 + 6x + 9 - 10\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "once you combine like terms you are left with x^2 + 6x - 1 which is your original equation.\r
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