Solve (x-1)(x-3)=8

$$(x-1)(x-3)=8$$

Solve for x

$$x=-1$$

$$x=5$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Use the distributive property to multiply x-1 by x-3 and combine like terms.

$$x^{2}-4x+3=8$$

Subtract 8 from both sides.

$$x^{2}-4x+3-8=0$$

Subtract 8 from 3 to get -5.

$$x^{2}-4x-5=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -4 for b, and -5 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\left(-5\right)}}{2}$$

Square -4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\left(-5\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -5.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16+20}}{2}$$

Add 16 to 20.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{36}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 36.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±6}{2}$$

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$x=\frac{4±6}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{4±6}{2} when ± is plus. Add 4 to 6.

$$x=\frac{10}{2}$$

Divide 10 by 2.

$$x=5$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{4±6}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 6 from 4.

$$x=-\frac{2}{2}$$

Divide -2 by 2.

$$x=-1$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=5 x=-1$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Use the distributive property to multiply x-1 by x-3 and combine like terms.

$$x^{2}-4x+3=8$$

Subtract 3 from both sides.

$$x^{2}-4x=8-3$$

Subtract 3 from 8 to get 5.

$$x^{2}-4x=5$$

Divide -4, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -2. Then add the square of -2 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-4x+\left(-2\right)^{2}=5+\left(-2\right)^{2}$$

Square -2.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=5+4$$

Add 5 to 4.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=9$$

Factor x^{2}-4x+4. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-2\right)^{2}=9$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-2\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{9}$$

Simplify.

$$x-2=3 x-2=-3$$

Add 2 to both sides of the equation.

$$x=5 x=-1$$