What number must be placed in the box below so that the resulting quadratic is the square of a binomial \(x^2 - 36x + \boxed{\phantom{000}}\)
x^2 - 36x + ???
Take (1/2) of 36 = 18 ....square it.....= 324 and this is the number...
Proof.....the binomial is ( x - 18) ...so.....
(x - 18)^2 = (x - 18) (x - 18) = x^2 - 18x - 18x + 324 = x^2 - 36x + 324
+16 
