Algebra II : Completing the Square

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Solving Quadratic Equations

Ahmed is trying to solve the equation  by completing the square. His first two steps are shown below:

Step 1: 

Step 2: 

Ahmed knows that he needs to add a number to both sides in the next step.

What number should Ahmed add to both sides?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A perfect square has the form .

In this case, , so  is  or .

To square a fraction, simply square the numerator and the denominator: .

Example Question #421 : Intermediate Single Variable Algebra

Solve the equation  by completing the square.

Possible Answers:

 or 

 or 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve the equation by completing the square first move the constant term to the right hand side of the equation.

Now, remember to divide the middle term by two. Then square it and add it to both sides of the equation.

From here write the the middle term divided by two in a binomial expression

Square root both sides and recall that .

Example Question #1551 : Algebra Ii

Solve .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solve by completing the square

add to both sides, where .

Factor

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.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors