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avatar+1459 

Find the constant $p$ such that $x^2 - 5x - 2x + 3x^2 - 11x + p$ is the square of a binomial.

 Jan 8, 2024
 #1
avatar+37147 
+1

Simplify to 

4x^2 -18x         Divide out '4'  so you can complete the square for 'x'

4 ( x^2 - 4.5x )         Now complete the square 

4 ( x- 2.25)^2   - 20 .25        Now you can see that p = - 20.25 

 Jan 8, 2024
 #2
avatar+37147 
0

Sorry... that should be 

4 ( x- 2.25)^2   - 20 .25 + p           SO   p would need to be  + 20.25         Sorry for my error ! 

ElectricPavlov  Jan 8, 2024

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