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. X2
+ 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 + 20x + ___ 100
 x2 - 4x + ___
4
 x2 + 5x + ___
25/4
Factoring Quadratics by
Completing the Square
Factor by completing
the square:
2
x +8x - 20
Step 1: First take the
coefficient of the
linear term, divide it
by 2, and then
square it. This gives 2
x +8x - 20
16 - (8/2)2
 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
 X2 – 12x + 4
 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.  9, 7 
1. x  2 x  63  0
2

2.(6, 14)
2. x  8 x  84  0
2

3.  3,8 
3. x  5 x  24  0
2

 7  i 3 
4. x  7 x  13  0
2
4.  
 2 
5. 3 x 2 5 x  6  0
 5  i 47 
5.  
 6 