Christian is solving the equation x2 – 12x = 4 by completing the square. What number must be added to both sides of the equation to complete the square?
-12/2 = 6, so add 36
Then you have x^2-12x+36 = (x-6)^2
To complete the square for the equation x^2 - 12x = 4, the number that must be added to both sides of the equation is (12/2)^2.
To complete the square for the equation x^2 – 12x = 4, Christian needs to determine the number that must be added to both sides of the equation.
To find this number, Christian needs to halve the coefficient of the x-term (which is -12) and then square the result. Let's follow these steps:
Step 1: Halve the coefficient of the x-term:
-12 ÷ 2 = -6
Step 2: Square the result from Step 1:
(-6)^2 = 36
So the number that needs to be added to both sides of the equation is 36.
Therefore, the equation, after completing the square, becomes x^2 - 12x + 36 = 40.