Question 183951
x^2 + 14x+ 24 =0
Your book was solving it by completing the square like this:
x^2+14x   =-24
x^2+14x+49=-24+49 divide the 2nd term by 2 and square the result 49 and use it as the 3rd term and add 49 to the other side to keep everything equal.
(x+7)^2=25
x+7=+-5 sqrt of each side.
x=-7+-5
x=-12, x=-2
You can also get the same answer by factoring or using the quadratic formula.
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Ed
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Factoring is easiest:
(x+12)(x+2)=0
x=-2, x=-12
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Quadratic equation:
*[invoke solve_quadratic_equation 1, 14, 24]