Question

Explain how you could use the formula

(x + a)2 = x2 + 2ax + a2

to solve the quadratic equation

x2 + 5x - 24 = 0.

Answer 1

`x = √(24) - (5)/(2)\\ x =- √(24) - (5)/(2)`

Explanation:

`x^2+5x-24=0\\x^2+2.x.(5)/(2) + (5^2)/(2^2)-(5^2)/(2^2)=24\\ \\(x+(5)/(2))^2=24\\ x+(5)/(2) = √(24)\\ x+(5)/(2) = -√(24) \\`