Question

what is a completing the square method??

Answer 1

Completing the Square is a method used to solve a quadratic equation by changing the form of the equation so that the left side is a perfect square trinomial .

To solve ax2+bx+c=0 by completing the square:

1. Transform the equation so that the constant term, c , is alone on the right side.

2. If a , the leading coefficient (the coefficient of the x2 term), is not equal to 1 , divide both sides by a .

3. Add the square of half the coefficient of the x -term, (b2a)2 to both sides of the equation.

4. Factor the left side as the square of a binomial.

5. Take the square root of both sides. (Remember: (x+q)2=r is equivalent to x+q=±r√ .)

6. Solve for x .

Example 1: