Blog 4

Hello Class:

Today I am going to teach you about completing the square.

What does it mean to complete the square you ask?

Well! Let me tell you!

Completing the Square is used when solving general quadratic equations.

                                                                                 2       2
In Algebra a quadratic equation looks like this: ax   + by   + c


To solve a quadratic equation by completing the square.

All it takes are 




Be sure to follow along!



Step 1: Divide all terms by a (the coefficient of x2).
                        

Step 2:  Move the number term (c/a) to the right side of the equation.

Step 3: Complete the square on the right side of the equation and glance this                                                                     by adding the same value to the right side of the equation.


Step 4: Take the square root of both side of the equation.


Step 5: Subtract the number that remains on the left side of the equation to find x.



Example: x2 + 8x + 2


Step 1:    can be skipped because the coefficient of x2 is 1

Step 2:    x2 + 8x = -2

Step 3:    x2 + 8x + 16 = - 3 + 16  -> x2 + 8x + 16 = 13

                         2
               (x + 4)  = 14

Step 4: (x + 4) = 3.74
                  -4
Step 5:  x= .26

And thats the answer! That is how you solve for a quadratic equation by solving for the square.