Solve by Completing the Square x^2+4x-12=0

$x^{2} + 4 x - 12 = 0$

Step 1

Add $12$ to both sides of the equation.

$x^{2} + 4 x = 12$

Step 2

To create a trinomial square on the left side of the equation, find a value that is equal to the square of half of $b$ .

${(\frac{b}{2})}^{2} = {(2)}^{2}$

Step 3

Add the term to each side of the equation.

$x^{2} + 4 x + {(2)}^{2} = 12 + {(2)}^{2}$

Step 4

Simplify the equation.

Simplify the left side.

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$x^{2} + 4 x + 4 = 12 + {(2)}^{2}$

Simplify the right side.

Simplify $12 + {(2)}^{2}$ .

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$x^{2} + 4 x + 4 = 12 + 4$

Add $12$ and $4$ .

$x^{2} + 4 x + 4 = 16$

Step 5

Factor the perfect trinomial square into ${(x + 2)}^{2}$ .

${(x + 2)}^{2} = 16$

Step 6

Solve the equation for $x$ .

Take the specified root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent on the left side.

$x + 2 = \pm \sqrt{16}$

Simplify $\pm \sqrt{16}$ .

Rewrite $16$ as $4^{2}$ .

$x + 2 = \pm \sqrt{4^{2}}$

Pull terms out from under the radical, assuming positive real numbers.

$x + 2 = \pm 4$

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

First, use the positive value of the $\pm$ to find the first solution.

$x + 2 = 4$

Move all terms not containing $x$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $2$ from both sides of the equation.

$x = 4 - 2$

Subtract $2$ from $4$ .

$x = 2$

Next, use the negative value of the $\pm$ to find the second solution.

$x + 2 = - 4$

Move all terms not containing $x$ to the right side of the equation.

Subtract $2$ from both sides of the equation.

$x = - 4 - 2$

Subtract $2$ from $- 4$ .

$x = - 6$

The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.

$x = 2, - 6$

Solve by Completing the Square x^2+4x-12=0

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