Question

2p^2-15p+8=43 how do you complete the square to this equation

Answer 1

1. You have:

 2p²-15p+8=43

 2p²-15p-35=0

 2. the leading coefficient "a" must be 1. So, you need to divide the terms by 2:

 p²-(15p/2)-(35/2)=0

 3. Now, you have:

 (b/2)²=(15/2/2)²=(15/4)²

 p²-15p-(15/4)²=35+(15/4)²
 (p-15/4)²=35+225/16

 4. Finally, you obtain:

 (p-15/4)²=505/16