How do you use solve x2−10x+8=0?
1 Answer
Mar 3, 2016
Complete the square and use the difference of squares identity to find:
x=5±√17
Explanation:
The difference of squares identity can be written:
a2−b2=(a−b)(a+b)
We use this with
Complete the square then use the above as follows:
0=x2−10x+8
=x2−10x+25−17
=(x−5)2−(√17)2
=((x−5)−√17)((x−5)+√17)
=(x−5−√17)(x−5+√17)
Hence:
