Solve Qua dratics

by Comple ting
th e Squ are

MATH PRO JECT

Use algebra tiles to complete a perfect square trinomial.

Model the expression x 2 + 6x.
x2 x x x x x x
Arrange the x­tiles to 
form part of a square.
x 1 1 1

To complete the square, 
x 1 1 1
add nine 1­tiles. x 1 1 1

You have completed the square. x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3)2
SOLVING BY COMPLETING THE SQUARE

To complete the square of the expression x2 + bx, add the 
square of half the coefficient of x.

2 2
x2 + bx + ( ) (
b
2
= x+ b
2 )
 Completing the Square

What term should you add to x2 – 8x so that the result is a 
perfect square?

SOLUTION
2
–8
The coefficient of x is –8, so you should add
to the expression.
( 2) , or 16,

2
–8
x – 8x +
2
2 ( ) = x2 – 8x + 16 = (x – 4)2
 Completing the Square

Factor  2x2 –x–2=0

SOLUTION

2x2 – x – 2 = 0 Write original equation.

2x2 – x = 2 Add 2 to each side.

1
2
x – 2 x=1 Divide each side by 2.

2 2 1 2
x2 –
1
2 ( )
x+ –
1
4
=1+ 1
16 (
– • 1 1
)( )
Add                    =               , or
2 2              
–
4
1
16
to each side.
 Completing the Square

2 2
)( )
2
x2 –
1
2
x+ –( )
1
4
=1+ 1
16
( 1
– • 1
2 2              
–
4
1
Add                    =               , or
1
16
to each side.
2
( x–
1
4 ) =
17
16
Write left side as a fraction.

1 17 Find the square root of each side.
x– = ±
4 4
1 17 1
Add        to each side. 
x= ±
4 4 4

1 17 1 17
The solutions are + ≈ 1.28 and – ≈ – 0.78.
4 4 4 4
 Completing the Square

1 17 1 17
The solutions are + ≈ 1.28 and – ≈ – 0.78.
4 4 4 4

CHECK You can check the solutions on a graphing calculator.

ax2 + bx = – c Subtract c from each side.

bx –c Divide each side by a.
x + a+ = a
2

bx
( )= a +( )
b –c b 2
Add the square of half the coefficient 
2
x +
2
+
a 2a 2a of x to each side.

( 2a ) a 4a
x +
b
= –c + b
2 2
2
Write the left side as a perfect square.

(x+
b
2a )
2
= – 4ac + b 2
4a2
Use a common denominator to express 
the right side as a single fraction. 
 CHOOSING A SOLUTION METHOD
Investigating the Quadratic Formula

( b
) – 4ac + b Use a common denominator to express 
2 2
x+ =
2a 2
4a the right side as a single fraction. 

2
b ± b − 4ac Find the square root of each side.
x+ =
2a 2a Include ± on the right side.

± b2 − 4ac b Solve for x by subtracting the same 
x= –
2a 2a term from each side.

–b ± b − 4ac
2
Use a common denominator to express 
x= the right side as a single fraction.
2a