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| Question 66792:  Solve by completing the square.
 2x^2-12x-18=0
 How do you do it. Thanks
 Found 2 solutions by  Earlsdon, ptaylor:
 Answer by Earlsdon(6294)
      (Show Source): Answer by ptaylor(2198)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Solve by completing the square. 2x^2-12x-18=0
 How do you do it. Thanks
 2x^2-12x-18=0  This is in standard form with A=2, B=-12 and C=-18.
 First, divide each term by 2;  (we want A to equal 1) and we get:
 x^2-6x-9=0  now add 9 to both sides (we are setting up the left side so we can complete the square) and we have:
 x^2-6x+9-9=9
 x^2-6x=9  Now we will complete the square on the left side.  In other words, we will select a C for the left side that results in the left side being a perfect square.  When A=1, we can take half B , square it, and add it to both sides.  We will now have a perfect square on the left side.  Another way to look at it is: when A=1, then B is the sum of the factors of C.  Here, we are choosing the factors of C that results in a perfect square and this will work in most every case.
 (1/2)B=-3  squaring it, we get 9.  So we add 9 to both sides
 x^2-6x+9=18
 (x-3)^2=18   take the square root of both sides
 x-3=+or-sqrt(18)=+or-sqrt(9)(2)
 x=3+3sqrt(2)=3(1+sqrt(2))
 x=3-3sqrt(2)=3(1-sqrt(2))
 Ck by using the quadratic formula
 Hope this helps---ptaylor
 
 
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