SOLVING QUADRATIC

EQUATION BY
COMPLETING THE
SQUARE
by Teacher Ivy
 Understand Perfect Square
Trinomials
A perfect square trinomial is a
trinomial that can be expressed
as the square of a binomial.
EXAMPLES
1. x2 – 10x + 25 = (x – 5) (x – 5) = (x – 5)2
2. a + 8a + 16 = (a + 4) (a + 4) = (a + 4)
2 2

3. p2 – 14p + 49 = (p – 7) (p – 7) = (p – 7)2
Note that in every perfect square
trinomial, the constant term is the
square of one-half the coefficient of
the LINEAR term.
ACTIVITY 1: Make it Perfect !
1) x -2x + ____
2

2) x -6x + ____
2

3) x -30x + ____
2
To Solve a Quadratic Equation by Completing the Square
1.Use the multiplication (or division) property
of equality, if necessary, to make the leading
coefficient 1.
2.Rewrite the equation with the constant by
itself on the right side of the equation.
3.Take one-half the numerical coefficient of the
first-degree term, square it, and add this
quantity to both sides of the equation.
To Solve a Quadratic Equation by Completing the Square
4. Factor the trinomial as the square of a
binomial.
5. Use the square root property to take the
square root of both sides of the equation.
6. Solve for the variable.
7. Check your solutions in the original
equation.
EXAMPLE 1. x + 6x + 5 = 0
2

Step 1 Since the leading coefficient is 1,

step 1 is not necessary.
Step 2 Rewrite the equation with the
constant by itself on the right side of the
equation. x  6x  5  0
2

x  6 x  5
2
Step 3 Determine the square of one-
half the numerical coefficient of the
LINEAR term, 6. 1
(6)  3, 3  9
2

2
Add this value to both sides of the equation.
x  6 x  9  5  9
2

x  6x  9  4
2
Step 4 By following this procedure,
we produce a perfect square trinomial
on the left side of the equation. The
expression x + 6x + 9 is a perfect
2

square trinomial that can be factored

as (x + 3) .
2

( x  3)  4
2
Step 5 Use the square root property.

x3  4
x  3  2
Step 6 Solve for the variable.
x  3  3  3  2
x  3  2
x  3  2 or x  3  2
x  1 x  -5
Step 7 Check both solutions in the original equation.