Algebra II : Algebra II

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #421 : Intermediate Single Variable Algebra

Solve by completing the square:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add 7 to both sides:

Divide both sides by the coefficient on x^2:

Add  to both sides:

Form the perfect square on the left side:

Simplify the right side:

Take the square root of both sides:

Solve for x:

Example Question #422 : Intermediate Single Variable Algebra

Use the method of completing the square to find the roots of the function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To complete the square, we must remember that our goal is to make a perfect square trinomial out of the terms we have.

We are given a function that we must set equal to zero if we want to find its roots:

Now, subratct 1 to the other side so we have only x-terms on one side:

Now, on the left side of the equation, in order to make a perfect square trinomial, we must take the coefficient of x - in this case, -6, and divide it by two, and then square that number:

This term becomes our "c" for the trinomial . However, because we introduced this new term on the left side of the equation, we must add it to the right hand side as well, so that we aren't "changing" the original equation:

Next, we can convert the perfect square trinomial into the square of a binomial:

This comes from the definition of the binomial, squared. When we FOIL (or use the memory tool "square the first term, square the last term, multiply the two terms and double") we get our original trinomial.  

Now, to solve for x, take the square root of both sides, and add three to the other side:

.

 

Example Question #1561 : Algebra Ii

What number should be added to the expression below in order to complete the square?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To complete the square for any expression in the form , you must add .

In this case, 

Example Question #1563 : Algebra Ii

What number should be added to the expression below in order to complete the square?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To complete the square for any expression in the form , you must add .

In this case, 

Example Question #423 : Intermediate Single Variable Algebra

Use completing the square to re-write the follow parabola equation in vertex form:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Vertex form for a parabola is

 

where (h, k) is the vertex. 

We start by eliminating the leading coefficient by dividing both sides by 3.

We now subtract 6 from both sides to set up our "completing the square" technique.

To complete the square, we divide the x coefficient by 2, square the result, and add that result to both sides.

Since the right side is now a perfect square, we can rewrite it as a squared binomial.

Solve for y by adding 2 to both sides, then multiplying both sides by 3.

Example Question #1564 : Algebra Ii

Use completing the square to simplify the equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First subtract over the constant term just to get the x terms by themselves.

Now use the property of completing the square. In completing the square we take the constant from the "x" term (Not the xterm). We take the constant, in our case 3, then we divide it by two. This is going to be the constant in the perfect square!

Now, square this constant and add it to both sides:

 

This is our new constant that we can use to complete the square. Add this constant to both sides to get an equation that looks like this:

Because of the completing the square method, we know that our constant within the square should be 3/2 just like we found before, so now we can write down the completed square, and we are done.

Simplify the right hand side:

 

Example Question #110 : Solving Quadratic Equations

Use the method of completing the square to simplify the equation.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, get the xterm by itself. Do this by dividing every term by 4,

Now subtract over the constant term just to get the x terms by themselves.

Now use the property of completing the square. In completing the square we use the constant from the "x" term (Not the xterm). Take the constant, in our case 4, then we divide it by two. This is going to be the constant in the perfect square!

Now, square this constant and add it to both sides:

This is our new constant that we can use to complete the square. Add this constant to both sides to get an equation that looks like this:

Because of the completing the square method, we know that our constant within the square should be 2 just like we found before, so now we can write down the completed square, and we are done.

Example Question #41 : Completing The Square

Solve for x by completing the square:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem by completing the square, we first must move the non-x term to the right hand side:

Next, we are going to turn the left hand side into a perfect square trinomial. To do so, we must take the middle term's coefficient, divide it by two, and then square it. This will be the third term of the perfect square trinomial:

However, because we are adding 25 to one side of the equation, we must add it to the other as well:

Now, we can rewrite the left hand side as a perfect square:

(Note that .)

Now, we solve for x:

 

Example Question #111 : Solving Quadratic Equations

Solve for x by completing the square:

Possible Answers:

No solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for x by completing the square, first we must leave only terms containing x on one side:

Now, we can divide by 2 on both sides so that we have a coefficient of 1 for the leading term (this isn't necessary but makes the process easier):

Now, on the left side, we must complete the square. We are trying to create

so we must halve the coefficient of x, and then square it. When we add this term to the left side, we must also add it to the right side of the equation (so we aren't changing the function):

Now, rewrite the left hand side as a perfect square:

Now, we can solve for x:

Example Question #43 : Completing The Square

Solve: 

Possible Answers:

None of these.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for x factor the quadratic into two binomials. To factor the quadratic, look at the factors for the constant value.

Since the middle value is positive and the last term is negative, this signifies that one binomial will contain a negative sign and the other will be positive.

Now let's look at the factors of the third term.

From here, which set of factors when added together result in the value of the middle term, or in this case .

Since 

.

Now set each binomial equal to zero and solve for x.

Binomial 1:

       

____________

Binomial 2:

        

_____________

Therefore the solution is,

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