Quadratic Factoring (kind of)

[Justin0513]

The problem is "Find a and b when we solve x²-10x-1 = 0 to get the answers x=5+-square root of 26 by using (x+a)²=b. I'm completely lost, and can't seem to even factor that quadratic.

 

[pappus]

The problem is "Find a and b when we solve x²-10x-1 = 0 to get the answers x=5+-square root of 26 by using (x+a)²=b. I'm completely lost, and can't seem to even factor that quadratic.

1. Complete the square:

x^2-10x + 25= 1 + 25

2. You should come out with:

(x-5)^2=26

3. Now evaluate the square-root at both sides.