To complete the square for the polynomial \( h^2 - 26h \), we need to find a number that makes it a perfect-square quadratic.
- Take the coefficient of \( h \), which is \(-26\).
- Divide this number by 2: \[ -26 \div 2 = -13 \]
- Square the result: \[ (-13)^2 = 169 \]
Therefore, we fill in the blank with 169.
Putting this all together, the expression \( h^2 - 26h + 169 \) can be rewritten as: \[ (h - 13)^2 \]
Thus, the number that makes the polynomial a perfect-square quadratic is 169.
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