document.write( "Question 1912: Solve by completing the square.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "z^2 + z = 2
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Algebra.Com's Answer #735 by longjonsilver(2297)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
to write the lefthand side as a \"square\" eg \"%28z%2B3%29%5E2\" we need to figure out what is missing and add it in, so the standard square is as follows:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%2Ba%29%5E2+=+x%5E2+%2B+2ax+%2B+a%5E2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so, we would need to find the number \"a\"...so look at the coefficient of the x-term. You have 1z so 2a is equivalent to 1 therefore a itself must be 1/2. If that is so, then \"a%5E2\" must be 1/4.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so, we would need to have \"z%5E2+%2B+z+%2B+%281%2F4%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "but we cannot JUST add a 1/4 to one side...we need to add it to both sides, to keep the equation \"unchanged\", so we actually get the following:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"z%5E2+%2B+z+%2B+%281%2F4%29+=+2+%2B+%281%2F4%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which becomes\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28z%2B%281%2F2%29%29%5E2+=+%289%2F4%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so now, taking square root of both sides, we get\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"z%2B%281%2F2%29\" = +-\"%283%2F2%29\"....ALWAYS remember the +- when square rooting!!!!\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so z+1/2 = 3/2 or z+1/2 = -3/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so z=1, or z=-2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Make sense?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "cheers
\n" ); document.write( "Jon.
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