The first few steps in solving the quadratic equation 9x2 + 49x = 22 − 5x by completing the square are shown.
9x2 + 49x = 22 − 5x
9x2 + 54x = 22
9(x2 + 6x) = 22
which is the best step to do next to solve the equation by completing the square?
a. 9(x2 + 6x + 3) = 25
b. 9(x2 + 6x + 3) = 49
c. 9(x2 + 6x + 9) = 31
d. 9(x2 + 6x + 9) = 103

First locate the turning point (vertex) of the graph. which is at the coordinates x=5 and y=9 or (5; 9).to determine whether it's a maximum or mininum value, you have to discern whether the vertex's y-value is the highest value or lowest value the graph can reach. since the vertex's y-value, 9 is the highest value the graph can reach, it will be a maximum.another basic way to determine whether the vertex's value is max or min is to see if the graph is smiling or sad. if it's smiling, the turning point/vertex would be a minimum, while a sad parabola would have a maximum y-value at the vertex.