Complete the square to identify the two values that solve the following quadratic equation: x2−16x−13=4

.

1 answer

To solve the quadratic equation \( x^2 - 16x - 13 = 4 \) using the method of completing the square, we first set the equation in the standard form:

  1. Rearrange the equation: \[ x^2 - 16x - 13 - 4 = 0 \] \[ x^2 - 16x - 17 = 0 \]

  2. Move the constant to the other side: \[ x^2 - 16x = 17 \]

  3. Complete the square:

    • Take the coefficient of \( x \), which is \(-16\).
    • Divide it by 2: \(-16 \div 2 = -8\).
    • Square the result: \((-8)^2 = 64\).
  4. Add and subtract this square on the left side of the equation: \[ x^2 - 16x + 64 = 17 + 64 \] \[ (x - 8)^2 = 81 \]

  5. Take the square root of both sides: \[ x - 8 = \pm 9 \]

  6. Solve for \( x \):

    • For the positive case: \[ x - 8 = 9 \implies x = 9 + 8 = 17 \]
    • For the negative case: \[ x - 8 = -9 \implies x = -9 + 8 = -1 \]

Thus, the two values that solve the equation \( x^2 - 16x - 13 = 4 \) are:

\[ \boxed{17 \text{ and } -1} \]