How do you solve using the completing the square method x^2 - 4x - 9 = 0x24x9=0?

1 Answer
Mar 30, 2016

The solutions are:
color(green)(x = sqrt 13 + 2x=13+2 or color(green)(x = -sqrt 13 + 2x=13+2

Explanation:

x^2 - 4x - 9 =0x24x9=0

x^2 - 4x = 9 x24x=9

To write the Left Hand Side as a Perfect Square, we add 4 to both sides:

x^2 - 4x+ 4 = 9 + 4x24x+4=9+4

x^2 - 2* x * 2 + 2^2 = 13x22x2+22=13

Using the Identity color(blue)((a-b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2(ab)2=a22ab+b2, we get

(x-2)^2 = 13(x2)2=13

x - 2 = sqrt13x2=13 or x -2 = -sqrt13x2=13

color(green)(x = sqrt 13 + 2x=13+2 or color(green)(x = -sqrt 13 + 2x=13+2