SOLUTION: Solve by completing the square: m^2-1/2m=7/2 The solutions are___?

Algebra ->  Rational-functions -> SOLUTION: Solve by completing the square: m^2-1/2m=7/2 The solutions are___?      Log On


   



Question 457869: Solve by completing the square:
m^2-1/2m=7/2
The solutions are___?

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To complete the square, take 1/2
of the coefficient of m,
square it, and add it to both sides
+m%5E2+-+%281%2F2%29%2Am+=+7%2F2+
+m%5E2+-+%281%2F2%29%2Am+%2B+%281%2F4%29%5E2+=+7%2F2+%2B+%281%2F4%29%5E2+
+m%5E2+-+%281%2F2%29%2Am+%2B+1%2F16+=+56%2F16+%2B+1%2F16+
+%28+m+-+1%2F4+%29%5E2+=+57%2F16+
Take the square root of both sides
+m+-+1%2F4+=+sqrt%2857%29+%2F+4+
+m+=+%281+%2B+sqrt%2857%29%29+%2F+4+
and
+m+=+%281+-+sqrt%2857%29%29+%2F+4+
check answers:
+sqrt%2857%29+=+7.55+
+m+=+%281+-+7.55%29%2F4+
+m+=+-1.637+
and
+m%5E2+-+%281%2F2%29%2Am+=+7%2F2+
+%28-1.637%29%5E2+-+%281%2F2%29%2A%28-1.637%29+=+3.5+
+2.680+%2B+.8185+=+3.5+
+3.4985+=+3.5+
close enough- you can check other root