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The quadratic \(x^2-6x+66\) can be written in the form \((x+b)^2+c\), where \(b\) and \(c\) are constants. What is \(b+c\)?

 Jan 2, 2018

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+2439 
+2

One strategy is to rewrite the equation such that to get a perfect square.

 

\(x^2-6x+\left(\frac{-6}{2}\right)^2\)

 

What I am doing here is figuring out what number goes after x^2-6x such that it is a perfect square. Simplify from here.

 

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

 

You probably notice that there is a problem, though. The original expression does not end with a term of +9; it ends with a +66. Let's break up the +66.

 

\(x^2-6x+9+57\)

 

Notice how breaking up the expression does not actually change its value, so this is a valid step. As aforementioned, the first three terms form a perfect-square binomial.

 

\((x\textcolor{blue}{-3})^2\textcolor{red}{+57}\\ (x+\textcolor{blue}{b})^2+\textcolor{red}{c}\)

 

Notice the parallelism in structure. This allows us to identify that -3=b and 57=c. Adding these values together, we get that \(b+c=-3+57=54\)

 Jan 2, 2018
 #1
avatar+2439 
+2
Best Answer

One strategy is to rewrite the equation such that to get a perfect square.

 

\(x^2-6x+\left(\frac{-6}{2}\right)^2\)

 

What I am doing here is figuring out what number goes after x^2-6x such that it is a perfect square. Simplify from here.

 

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

 

You probably notice that there is a problem, though. The original expression does not end with a term of +9; it ends with a +66. Let's break up the +66.

 

\(x^2-6x+9+57\)

 

Notice how breaking up the expression does not actually change its value, so this is a valid step. As aforementioned, the first three terms form a perfect-square binomial.

 

\((x\textcolor{blue}{-3})^2\textcolor{red}{+57}\\ (x+\textcolor{blue}{b})^2+\textcolor{red}{c}\)

 

Notice the parallelism in structure. This allows us to identify that -3=b and 57=c. Adding these values together, we get that \(b+c=-3+57=54\)

TheXSquaredFactor Jan 2, 2018

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