Homework Help: Algebra

Posted by Elise on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 5:20pm.

Below is a "complete the square problem" from a math help site on the internet.

This is the original problem. 4x2 – 2x – 5 = 0
Move the loose number over to the other side. 4x2 – 2x = 5
Divide through by whatever is multiplied on the squared term.
x^2-1/2x=5/4. How did -2x suddenly become -1/2? Thanks!!

Algebra - drwls, Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 5:35pm
The instructions want you to "divide (both sides of the equation) by the coefficient of the squared term", which is 4.
-2x divided by 4 is = -x/2

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