complete the square to indentify the two values that solve the following quadratice equations: x^2+8x=9

1 answer

To solve the quadratic equation \(x^2 + 8x = 9\) by completing the square, follow these steps:

  1. Move the constant to the other side: \[ x^2 + 8x - 9 = 0 \]

  2. Complete the square:

    • Take the coefficient of \(x\) (which is 8), divide it by 2, and square it: \[ \left(\frac{8}{2}\right)^2 = 4^2 = 16 \]

    • Add and subtract this value inside the equation: \[ x^2 + 8x + 16 - 16 - 9 = 0 \]

    • Rearranging gives: \[ (x + 4)^2 - 25 = 0 \]

  3. Isolate the squared term: \[ (x + 4)^2 = 25 \]

  4. Take the square root of both sides: \[ x + 4 = \pm 5 \]

  5. Solve for \(x\):

    • For the positive case: \[ x + 4 = 5 \implies x = 5 - 4 = 1 \]
    • For the negative case: \[ x + 4 = -5 \implies x = -5 - 4 = -9 \]

Thus, the two values that solve the equation \(x^2 + 8x = 9\) are: \[ \boxed{1} \quad \text{and} \quad \boxed{-9} \]