Question 904561
you need to complete the squares.


start with x^2 + 6x - 1


take half the coefficient of the x term and use it to form the factors of (x+3)^2


now take half the coefficient of the x term and square it and subtract it from the result.


you get x^2 + 6x - 1 = (x+3)^2 - 9 - 1 which results in (x+3)^2 - 10.


if you look at what you did, take (x+3)^2 and perform the operation to get x^2 + 6x + 9


your equation becomes x^2 + 6x + 9 - 10


once you combine like terms you are left with x^2 + 6x - 1 which is your original equation.