1. 9-3B Completing the Square
(to solve quadratic equations)
Add a few problems where the middle term is odd!
You will need a calculator for today’s lesson.
Adapted from Math 8H Completing the Square JoAnn Evans

2. prime

3. First, a few review topics to refresh your memory………
Solving a quadratic by taking the square root:
To solve for x, take the square root of both sides of the equation.
When taking the square root of both sides of the equation, you must add a plus/minus sign because 81 has both a positive and a negative root.

4. Another look at the characteristics common to all
PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIALS :
x2 + 6x + 9
x2 - 12x + 36
x2 + 2x + 1
x2 + x + ¼
In each trinomial, take a look at the coefficient of the middle term and the constant. What is the relationship between these two numbers?
(x + 3)2
(x – 6)2
Take half of the middle term coefficient.
If you square that number, you will have the constant in each case.
Why is that? Think of the factored form of each P.S.T.
(x + 1)2
(x + ½) 2

5. What is the missing constant that will complete the square?

6. What is the missing constant that will complete the square?

7. What is the missing constant that will complete the square?

8. What is the missing constant that will complete the square?

9. Make each incomplete trinomial into a PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIAL by finding the missing constant:
x2 + 8x + ___
x2 – 14x + ___
x2 + 10x + ___
x2 + 22x + ___
x2 - 20x + ___ 16
Factored form: (x + 4)2 49
Factored form: (x - 7)2 25
Factored form: (x + 5)2
121
Factored form: (x + 11)2
100
Factored form: (x - 10)2

10. To solve a quadratic by “Completing the Square”, follow these steps:
Make sure the coefficient of x2 is 1.
2. Move everything to the LEFT side of the equation EXCEPT the constant.
3. Make the left hand side of the equation into a PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIAL by following the steps we just practiced.
4. Remember, if you add a number to one side of an equation, you must add the same number to the other side of the equation.
5. Factor the left side into the SQUARE OF A BINOMIAL.
6. Take the square root of each side. Remember to add the ± symbol to the right side.
7. Solve for x.

11. Solve by completing the square.
x2 – 6x + 7 = 0
Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 – 6x + ___ = -7
Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of -6, squared?
x2 – 6x + 9 =
Add 9 to both sides.
(half of -6)2
x2 – 6x + 9 = Simplify.
(x – 3)2 = 2
Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

12. x2 – 4x + 2 = 0 Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
Example 1 Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.
x2 – 4x + 2 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 – 4x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a perfect
square trinomial. What’s half of -4, squared?
x2 – 4x + 4 =
Add 4 to both sides.
(half of -4)2
x2 – 4x + 4 = Simplify.
(x – 2)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

13. x2 - 12x + 4 = 0 Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
Example 2 Solve by completing the square. Round to nearest tenth if necessary.
x2 - 12x + 4 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 - 12x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of -12, squared?
x2 - 12x + 36 =
Add 36 to both sides.
(half of -12)2
x2 - 12x + 36 = Simplify.
(x - 6)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

14. Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.
Example 3
x2 + 6x - 8 = 0
Example 4
x2 - 2x - 3 = 0
Example 5
x2 + 16x + 4 = 0
Example 6
x2 + 10x - 24 = 0

15. x2 + 6x - 8 = 0 Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
Example 3 Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary
x2 + 6x - 8 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 + 6x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of 6, squared?
x2 + 6x + 9 = 8 + 9
Add 9 to both sides.
(half of 6)2
x2 + 6x + 9 = Simplify.
(x + 3)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

16. x2 - 2x - 3 = 0 Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
Example 4 Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.
x2 - 2x - 3 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 - 2x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of -2, squared?
x2 - 2x + 1 = 3 + 1
Add 1 to both sides.
(half of -2)2
x2 - 2x + 1 = Simplify.
(x - 1)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

17. x2 + 16x + 4 = 0 Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
Example 5 Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.
x2 + 16x + 4 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 + 16x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of 16, squared?
x2 + 16x + 64 =
Add 64 to both sides.
(half of 16)2
x2 + 16x + 64 = Simplify.
(x + 8)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

18. x2 + 10x + ___ = 24 Leave a space for the number that will make a
Example 6 Solve by completing the square. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.
x2 + 10x - 24 = Keep everything except the constant on the left side.
x2 + 10x + ___ = Leave a space for the number that will make a
perfect square trinomial. What’s half of 5, squared?
x2 + 10x + 25 =
Add 25 to both sides.
(half of 10)2
x2 + 10x + 25 = Simplify.
(x + 5)2 = Rewrite as a binomial squared.
Find the square root of each side.
Solve for x.

19. Solve by completing the square.
Example 3
x2 + 6x - 8 = 0
Example 4
x2 - 2x - 3 = 0
Example 5
x2 + 16x + 4 = 0
Example 6
x2 + 10x - 24 = 0

20. Homework
9-A9 Page , # 16–27, 48-52,