How do you solve (-2/3)x^2 + (-4/3)x + 1 = 0 by completing the square?

1 Answer
May 24, 2015

0 = -2/3x^2-4/3x+1 = -2/3(x^2+2x-3/2)

= -2/3(x^2+2x+1-1-3/2)

= -2/3((x+1)^2-5/2)

Divide both sides by -2/3 to get:

0 = (x+1)^2 - 5/2

Add 5/2 to both sides to get:

(x+1)^2 = 5/2

Then

x+1 = +-sqrt(5/2)

Subtract 1 from both sides to get:

x = -1 +- sqrt(5/2) = -1 +-sqrt(10)/2