6.

3 COMPLETING THE SQUARE

Learning Goal(s): A quadratic relation in standard form 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 can also be written in
vertex form: 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌, by COMPLETING THE SQUARE

STEPS to COMPLETING the SQUARE

This technique is used to change from standard form of an expression or quadratic equation to vertex
form

STANDARD FORM to VERTEX FORM

GROUP The
y = ax 2 + bx + c to y = a( x − h) 2 + k
fast a
&
y = 2x2 − 4x + 7I Herms
example in standard form

y = 2( x 2 −O
2 x) + 7 2
1. common factor ‘a’ value from the x and x term (leave

S the constant term in the equation)

* = -1
y = 2( x 2 − 2 x + 1 − 1) + 7 2. divide the coefficient of x term by 2, then square…..
EE *
y z(3 -

2x+ 1) 1(z) add and subtract this value in the brackets (Y 1

+7
= - =
-

y = 2( x 2 − 2 x + 1) + 7 − 2 3. multiply ‘a’value by the negative value in the brackets Es

um -
(distribute the negative value outside the brackets)
P55
y = 2( x − 1) 2 + 5 4. complete the perfect square with 𝑥 and a constant
-
L

(1/2 the coefficient of 𝑥 term in the brackets)

simplify the constant terms outside the brackets

Vertex (1, 5) congruent to y = 2x 𝑎 > 0, opens up then minimum value of 5 when 𝑥 = 1

2
EXAMPLE: Write 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 1 in vertex form

Solution: 𝑦 = (𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙) + 1

𝑦 = 𝟐(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥) + 1
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓
𝑦 = 2(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + − ) + 1, half the coefficient of ‘x’ and square it. Add and Subtract the
𝟒 𝟒
new term.
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓
𝑦 = 2 (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + ) − + 1, take the ‘-‘ term outside, be sure to multiply by common
𝟒 𝟐
𝟐𝟓
factor. (− )(2)
𝟒

5 𝟐𝟑
𝑦 = 2(𝑥 − 2)2 − 𝟐

𝟐
EXAMPLE 1: Rewrite the following in vertex form : 𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟓

Solution: Solve by Completing the square

Step 1: Group the terms containing x as a factor

Y
=

(x2 +
6x) -
5

Step 2: Take ½ of the coefficient with the x term and square it 1 =

3
7
Add and subtract the result O
*
(3) =

y (x8 6x
q 3) 5
+ -
= + -

Step 3: Move the subtracted term outside of the bracket

5
y (x2 a) q()
-
=

xx
+ -
+

Y =

(xe 6x
+ +

9) -

14
ne
PST
Step 4: Factor the trinomial

Y (x 3) 14
=
-
+

VEREX at (-3
,
-14)
 𝟐
EXAMPLE 2: Find the max or min value of : 𝒚 = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟑𝒙 by completing the square

Solution: 3x2 5
y
=
+
-

Step 1:
y
=

( -
3x2 + 5x

y
=
- 3(x2 -

Ex)
(5) 5 ( 3
=
-

=
2
Step 2:
=

,
y 3(x2
-x+
=

-
)
- -

Step 3:

y
=
-
3(xw -

-x+3) -

573
y
=
-
3(x2 Esx+ -

5)+ 15
6 3
REDUCE
!
e
Step 4: PST

y
=
-
3(x -

5)2+ 75
T

EXAMPLE 3: Determine the maximum value of the quadratic relation 𝒚 = −𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐𝟗

Recall: 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌 where (h,k) is the vertex of the relation.

=
Solution: 29 I (6) 4
1xx)+
-

( 3x2
-
=

+
,
y
= -

3(xk 4x) +

29
Y
-

-
=

3(xb 4x
+
x -
4)+29
y
-
-
=

3(x2 4x 4) -
473529
y
+
-

=
-

y =
- 3(xb - 4x +
4) +

12+29

: 3(x 2)4+ 4) ::
Maximum 4)
-

y y
- at =

EXAMPLE 4: A baseball is hit from a height of 1m. The height, h, of the balls in metres after t seconds
can be modelled by 𝒉 = −𝟓𝒕𝟐 + 𝟗𝒕 + 𝟏. Determine the maximum height reached by the ball.

() =
*

(5) a w
-
=

Solution:
h =

7 57 2 9t) +
+
1
in 5(tr E-t) 1
+
= -
-

1
)
+

-
h 5(tr gt !
+
= -
-

(5) 1
h )
+

-
Et
+

=
- 5(tr -

100

5(t %(4 8 1
+
+

h
-
-

20
=
-

reached
n =
-
5t -

Fr +
:Max
height
↳
Ie