How do you solve 4x^2 - x = 0 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Mar 27, 2016

x=0 or x=1/4

Explanation:

As a^2+2ab+b^2=(a+b)^2

Trying to convert 4x^2-x in form a^2+2ab we can have

4x^2-x=(2x)^2+2xx2x xx(-1/4)

This means we should add (-1/4)^2 on both sides for completing the square.

Hence, 4x^2-x=0 can be written as

(2x)^2+2xx2x xx(-1/4)+(-1/4)^2-(-1/4)^2=0 or

(2x-1/4)^2-(-1/4)^2=0 or

(2x-1/4-1/4)(2x-1/4+1/4)=0 or

(2x-1/2)*(2x)=0 or

2(x-1/4)*2x=0 and dividing by 4 and rearranging we have

x(x-1/4)=0 i.e. x=0 or x=1/4