How do you solve x^2+6x+9=-32?

1 Answer
Apr 23, 2016

x = -3+-4sqrt(2)i

Explanation:

The left hand side here is a perfect square trinomial, but the right hand side is negative, so only has an imaginary square root.

We find:

x^2+6x+9 = (x+3)^2

Hence:

(x+3)^2 = -32

So:

x+3 = +-sqrt(-32) = +-sqrt(32)i = +-4sqrt(2)i

Subtract 3 from both sides to get:

x = -3+-4sqrt(2)i