FACTORING

POLYNOMIALS BY
COMPLETING THE
SQUARE
 PERFECT SQUARE
TRINOMIALS

Examples

x2 + 6x + 9
x2 - 10x + 25
x2 + 12x + 36
 CREATING A PERFECT
SQUARE TRINOMIAL

In the following perfect square

trinomial, the constant term is missing.
X 2 + 14x +
____
Find the constant term by squaring half
the coefficient of the linear term.
(14/2)2 X2 +
14x + 49
PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIALS

Create perfect
square trinomials.
x2
100
+ 20x + ___
x2
4
- 4x + ___
x2 25/4
+ 5x + ___
FACTORING QUADRATICS BY
COMPLETING THE SQUARE

Factor by completing
the square:
x 2 +8x - 20

Step 1: First take the

coefficient of the linear
term, divide it by 2,
and then square it. This
gives 16 - (8/2)2 x 2 +8x - 20
FACTORING BY COMPLETING
THE SQUARE

Step 2: Add and subtract 16 just after

the linear term. Therefore, you did
not change the value of the
expression.

x +8x +16 - 16+20

2
FACTORING BY COMPLETING THE
SQUARE

Step 3: Use brackets to group the first

three terms – This is your perfect
square trinomial.

(x +8x +16)- 16+20

2
Factoring by Completing the Square
Step 3: Factor the perfect square
trinomial and simplify the rest.

(x +8x +16)- 16+20

2

(x + 4)2 + 4
 X – 12X + 4
2

• Step 1: First take the coefficient of the linear

term, divide it by 2, and then square it.
• Step 2: Add and subtract 16 just after the
linear term. Therefore, you did not change
the value of the expression.
• Step 3: Use brackets to group the first
three terms – This is your perfect square
trinomial.
Factor by Completing the Square

Step 1: First take the coefficient of the linear

term, divide it by 2, and then square it.
Step 2: Add and subtract 16 just after the
linear term. Therefore, you did not change the
value of the expression.
Step 3: Use brackets to group the first three
terms – This is your perfect square trinomial.
27
x - x +6
2
 Solving Quadratic Equations by
Completing the Square
Step 4: 7 2 47
Take the (x  ) 
square
4 16
root of 7 47
each side (x  )  
4 4
7 i 47
x 
4 4
7  i 47
x
4
SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
BY COMPLETING THE SQUARE

Try the following examples. Do your work on your paper and then check
your answers.

1. x 2  2 x  63  0 1.  9, 7 
2.(6, 14)
2. x  8 x  84  0
2
3.  3, 8 
3. x 2  5 x  24  0  7  i 3 
4. 
 

2
4. x 2  7 x  13  0  
 5  i 47 
5. 3 x 5 x  6  0
2 5. 
 6


 