Algebra Tiles – Completing the Square Visual Representation
Use algebra tiles to complete the square for the equation: x2 + 6x + 2 = 0 1 1
Step 1: Subtract 2 from each side to model x2 + 6x = -2
Step 2: Begin to arrange the x2 and x tiles into a square 1 1 x = x x
Step 3: Add enough “1”s to complete the square Then, add the same number to the other side x2 x x x 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 = x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1
Step 4: remove zero pairs x2 x x x 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 = x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1
= New equation: x2 + 6x +9 = 7 x2 x x x x 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1