Thread: Finding values of quadratic equation

Got a math sum I'm working on thats troubling me.

can be written in the form

Find the values of and

Originally Posted by yorkey

Got a math sum I'm working on thats troubling me.

can be written in the form

Find the values of and

You have two options, both require that you have the necessary knowledge and understanding.

Option 1: Complete the square for x^2 + 4x - 8 and compare with (x + p)^2 + q.

Option 2: Expand (x + p)^2 + q and equate the coefficients of the various powers of x with the corresponding coefficients in x^2 + 4x - 8.

Ok great! Thanks

p = 2
q = -8

Does that work?

.

So p looks correct, but q does not. You almost got it though.

Oh I'm a retard. My reasoning went something like this:

(x + 2)^2 is expanded to x^2 + 4, which it obviously is NOT. So q is -12, right?

Originally Posted by yorkey

Oh I'm a retard. My reasoning went something like this:

(x + 2)^2 is expanded to x^2 + 4, which it obviously is NOT. So q is -12, right?

Hi yorkey,

Yes, q = -12

Complete the square on

Y'all are legends, thanks.

/this case is closed