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| Question 389186:  Please show me how to Solve the equation x2 + 8x – 2 = 0 using both The quadratic formula and  Completing the square.
 
 Found 2 solutions by  haileytucki, jim_thompson5910:
 Answer by haileytucki(390)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Quadratic First (~=square root) x^(2)+8x-2=0
 Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.  In this case, the values are a=1, b=8, and c=-2.
 x=(-b\~(b^(2)-4ac))/(2a) where ax^(2)+bx+c=0
 Use the standard form of the equation to find a, b, and c for this quadratic.
 a=1, b=8, and c=-2
 Substitute in the values of a=1, b=8, and c=-2.
 x=(-8\~((8)^(2)-4(1)(-2)))/(2(1))
 Simplify the section inside the radical.
 x=(-8\6~(2))/(2(1))
 Simplify the denominator of the quadratic formula.
 x=(-8\6~(2))/(2)
 First, solve the + portion of +-.
 x=(-8+6~(2))/(2)
 Factor out the GCF of 2 from each term in the polynomial.
 x=(2(-4)+2(3~(2)))/(2)
 Factor out the GCF of 2 from -8+6~(2).
 x=(2(-4+3~(2)))/(2)
 Reduce the expression (2(-4+3~(2)))/(2) by removing a factor of 2 from the numerator and denominator.
 x=(-4+3~(2))
 Remove the parentheses around the expression -4+3~(2).
 x=-4+3~(2)
 Next, solve the - portion of +-.
 x=(-8-6~(2))/(2)
 Factor out the GCF of 2 from each term in the polynomial.
 x=(2(-4)+2(-3~(2)))/(2)
 Factor out the GCF of 2 from -8-6~(2).
 x=(2(-4-3~(2)))/(2)
 Reduce the expression (2(-4-3~(2)))/(2) by removing a factor of 2 from the numerator and denominator.
 x=(-4-3~(2))
 Remove the parentheses around the expression -4-3~(2).
 x=-4-3~(2)
 The final answer is the combination of both solutions.
 x=-4+3~(2),-4-3~(2)_x=0.2426407,-8.24264
 
 Now, completing the square
 
 x^(2)+8x-2=0
 Since -2 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the equation by adding 2 to both sides.
 x^(2)+8x=2
 To create a trinomial square on the left-hand side of the equation, add a value to both sides of the equation that is equal to the square of half the coefficient of x.  In this problem, add (4)^(2) to both sides of the equation.
 x^(2)+8x+16=2+16
 Add 16 to 2 to get 18.
 x^(2)+8x+16=18
 Factor the perfect trinomial square into (x+4)^(2).
 (x+4)^(2)=18
 Take the square root of each side of the equation to setup the solution for x.
 ~((x+4)^(2))=\~(18)
 Remove the perfect root factor (x+4) under the radical to solve for x.
 (x+4)=\~(18)
 Pull all perfect square roots out from under the radical.  In this case, remove the 3 because it is a perfect square.
 (x+4)=\3~(2)
 First, substitute in the + portion of the \ to find the first solution.
 (x+4)=3~(2)
 Remove the parentheses around the expression x+4.
 x+4=3~(2)
 Since 4 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the equation by subtracting 4 from both sides.
 x=-4+3~(2)
 Move all terms not containing x to the right-hand side of the equation.
 x=3~(2)-4
 Next, substitute in the - portion of the \ to find the second solution.
 (x+4)=-3~(2)
 Remove the parentheses around the expression x+4.
 x+4=-3~(2)
 Since 4 does not contain the variable to solve for, move it to the right-hand side of the equation by subtracting 4 from both sides.
 x=-4+-3~(2)
 Move all terms not containing x to the right-hand side of the equation.
 x=-3~(2)-4
 The complete solution is the result of both the + and - portions of the solution.
 x=3~(2)-4,-3~(2)-4
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Solving by use of the quadratic formula: 
 
 
  Start with the given equation. 
 
 Notice that the quadratic
  is in the form of  where  ,  , and   
 
 Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for "x":
 
 
 
  Start with the quadratic formula 
 
 
  Plug in  ,  , and   
 
 
  Square  to get  . 
 
 
  Multiply  to get   
 
 
  Rewrite  as   
 
 
  Add  to  to get   
 
 
  Multiply  and  to get  . 
 
 
  Simplify the square root  (note: If you need help with simplifying square roots, check out this  solver) 
 
 
  Break up the fraction. 
 
 
  Reduce. 
 
 
  or  Break up the expression. 
 
 So the solutions are
  or   
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 Solving by use of completing the square:
 
 
 First we need to complete the square for the expression
   
 
 
  Start with the given expression. 
 
 Take half of the
  coefficient  to get  . In other words,  . 
 
 Now square
  to get  . In other words,   
 
 
  Now add and subtract  . Make sure to place this after the "x" term. Notice how  . So the expression is not changed. 
 
 
  Group the first three terms. 
 
 
  Factor  to get  . 
 
 
  Combine like terms. 
 
 So after completing the square,
  transforms to  . So  . 
 
 So
  is equivalent to  . 
 
 Now let's solve
   
 
 
  Start with the given equation. 
 
 
  Add  to both sides. 
 
 
  Combine like terms. 
 
 
  Take the square root of both sides. 
 
 
  or  Break up the "plus/minus" to form two equations. 
 
 
  or  Simplify the square root. 
 
 
  or  Subtract  from both sides. 
 
 --------------------------------------
 
 
 Answer:
 
 
 So the solutions are
  or  . 
 
 Notice how we get the same answers. So either method works.
 
 
 If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com
 
 Also, feel free to check out my tutoring website
 
 Jim
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