How do you solve x^2 +8x - 6 = 0 by completing the square?

1 Answer
Sep 18, 2016

x= -4 +- sqrt(22)

Explanation:

1(x^2 + 8x + m - m) = 6

The goal here is to find the value of m that will make the expression in parentheses a perfect square.

1(x^2 + 8x + 16 - 16) = 6

1(x^2 + 8x + 16) - 16 = 6

1(x + 4)^2 = 22

x + 4 = +-sqrt(22)

x= -4 +- sqrt(22)

Hopefully this helps!