2.

4 Completing the Square

• Objective: To complete a square for a quadratic equation

and solve by completing the square
 Main step in order to
complete the square
• 1.) You will get an expression that looks like this:
AX²+ BX
• 2.) Our goal is to make a square such that we have
(a + b)² = a² +2ab + b²
• 3.) We take ½ of the X coefficient or b
(Divide the number in front of the X by 2)
• 4.) Then square that number
To Complete the Square
x2 + 6x
• Take ½ the coefficient of ‘x’ or b/2 3
• Square it and add it 9

x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3)2
Complete the square, and show what the
perfect square is:

x  12 x x  12 x  36
2 2
x  6  2

y  14 y
2
y  14 y  49
2
 y  72

y  10 y
2
y  10 y  25
2
 y  52

2
x  5x
2 25  5
x  5x 
2
x 
4  2
To solve by completing the square
• If a quadratic equation does not factor we can solve it by
two different methods
• 1.) Completing the Square (today’s lesson)
• 2.) Quadratic Formula (tommorrow’s lesson)
Steps to solve by completing the square

2.) If the quadratic does not factor, move the

constant to the other side of the equation
Ex: x²-4x -7 =0 x²-4x=7
3.) Work with the x²+ x side of the equation and
complete the square by taking ½ of the
coefficient
of x and squaring Ex. x² -4x 4/2= 2²=4
4.) Add the number you got to complete the square to
both sides of the equation
Ex: x² -4x +4 = 7 +4
5.)Simplify your trinomial square Ex: (x-2)² =11
6.)Take the square root of both sides of the equation
Ex: x-2 =±√11
7.) Solve for x Ex: x=2±√11
Solve by Completing the Square
x  6 x  16  0
2

x  6 x  16
2

+9 +9
x  6 x  9  25
2

 x  3  25
2

 x  3   5
x  3  5 x  8 x  2
Solve by Completing the Square
x  22 x  21  0
2

x  22 x  21
2

+121 +121
x  22 x  121  100
2

 x  11  100
2

 x  11  10
x  11  10 x  21 x  1
Solve by Completing the Square
x  2x  5  0
2

x  2x  5
2

+1 +1
x  2x 1  6
2

 x  1  6
2

 x  1   6
x  1 6
Solve by Completing the Square
x  10 x  4  0
2

x  10 x  4
2

+25 +25
x  10 x  25  29
2

 x  5  29
2

x  5   29
x  5  29
Solve by Completing the Square
x  8 x  11  0
2

x  8 x  11
2

+16 +16
x  8 x  16  5
2

x  4   5
2

x  4    5
x  4  5
Solve by Completing the Square
x  6x  4  0
2

x  6 x  4
2

+9 +9
x  6x  9  5
2

x  3  5
2

x  3   5
x  3 5
The coefficient of x2 must be “1”
2 x  3x  3  0
2
2
 3 33
2 2 2 2 x  
 4  16
3 3
x  x 0
2
3 33
2 2 x 
3 3 3 2 3 4 16
x  x
2

2 2 4 3 33
33
2 x   3 33
3 9 3 9 x  4 4
16
x 
2
x   4
2 16 2 16
 The coefficient of x2 must be “1”
3 x  12 x  1  0
2
11
1 x2 
x  4x  
2
3
3
1 11 3
x  4 x  4  4 
2
x  2 
3 3 3
11
 x  2 33
2

3 x  2
3
 6 33
x  2
3 3

6  33
x
3