document.write( "Question 1038165: What would you add to both sides of the equation in order to solve the quadratic equation by completing the square?
\n" ); document.write( "a^2 - 5a = -4\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "options:
\n" ); document.write( "-2.5
\n" ); document.write( "2.5
\n" ); document.write( "-6.25
\n" ); document.write( "6.25 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #652890 by Edwin McCravy(20054) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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document.write( "a^2 - 5a = -4\r\n" );
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document.write( "Take one half of the red number, then square what you get.\r\n" );
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document.write( "What's one half of - 5?\r\n" );
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document.write( "It's  times -5 or -2.5, right?\r\n" );
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document.write( "That's one of the choices, but that's a wrong choice.  So\r\n" );
document.write( "is 2.5 a wrong choice.  Those are wrong because you have to \r\n" );
document.write( "square -2.5.\r\n" );
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document.write( "What's -2.5 squared?  It's not -6.25 (even though that's listed\r\n" );
document.write( "as a choice, but it's also a wrong choice).  That's because when \r\n" );
document.write( "you square a negative number you get a positive number, not a\r\n" );
document.write( "negative number.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So what's the only correct choice?\r\n" );
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document.write( "Bet you know now.  :)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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