Completing The Square
Completing the square is a method that is used to write a quadratic expression in a form that helps to solve quadratic equations and curve sketching of quadratic graphs. Before starting, I am assuming that you are familiar with squaring a bracket. If not I would encourage you to look at this short video on squaring a bracket.
In this series of three tutorials I take you through all the different types, depending on the nature of the x2 term.
Contents
- Completing the square for quadratic expressions
- where the terms in
- 1) x2 have a coefficient of 1
- 2) x2, have coefficients 2, 3, such as 2x2, 3x2
- 3) x2, are negative such as -x2, -2x2,…
- Alternative Method – Comparing Coefficients
- Comparing terms (1/2)
- Comparing terms (2/2)
- Applications
- Applications: (1/3)
- Applications: (2/3) Curve sketching (part 1)
- Applications: (3/3) Curve sketching (part 2)
Related Topics
Use the Desmos calculator to investigate further completing the square
Completing the square for x2 terms where the coefficient is 1