Question

can someone tell me how to work out this kind of question please

Answer 1

Hello,

$p^2-8p+a=(p+b)^2 ==\ \textgreater \ p^2-8p+a=p^2+2bp+b^2\\ 2b=-8==\textgreater b=-4\\ a=b^2==\textgreater a=(-4)^2=16$