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Can Completing the Square Be Used to Derive the Quadratic Formula?

Sure! Here’s the content simplified and made easier to read:


Yes, you can use completing the square to get the quadratic formula! Let’s break it down step by step.

  1. Starting Equation: We begin with a standard quadratic equation: ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0

  2. Isolate the Quadratic Term: First, we divide everything by aa (as long as aa is not zero): x2+bax+ca=0x^2 + \frac{b}{a}x + \frac{c}{a} = 0

  3. Rearranging Terms: Next, we move the constant term to the other side: x2+bax=cax^2 + \frac{b}{a}x = -\frac{c}{a}

  4. Completing the Square: Now, we take half of the number in front of xx, square it, and add that to both sides: (b2a)2\left(\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2

  5. Rewrite the Left Side: This helps us rewrite the left side: (x+b2a)2=b24ac4a2\left(x + \frac{b}{2a}\right)^2 = \frac{b^2 - 4ac}{4a^2}

  6. Solve for xx: Finally, we can find xx by taking the square root and solving: x=b2a±b24ac2ax = -\frac{b}{2a} \pm \frac{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

And there you have it! We end up with the quadratic formula: x=b±b24ac2ax = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

This shows that completing the square is a great way to find the quadratic formula!

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Can Completing the Square Be Used to Derive the Quadratic Formula?

Sure! Here’s the content simplified and made easier to read:


Yes, you can use completing the square to get the quadratic formula! Let’s break it down step by step.

  1. Starting Equation: We begin with a standard quadratic equation: ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0

  2. Isolate the Quadratic Term: First, we divide everything by aa (as long as aa is not zero): x2+bax+ca=0x^2 + \frac{b}{a}x + \frac{c}{a} = 0

  3. Rearranging Terms: Next, we move the constant term to the other side: x2+bax=cax^2 + \frac{b}{a}x = -\frac{c}{a}

  4. Completing the Square: Now, we take half of the number in front of xx, square it, and add that to both sides: (b2a)2\left(\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2

  5. Rewrite the Left Side: This helps us rewrite the left side: (x+b2a)2=b24ac4a2\left(x + \frac{b}{2a}\right)^2 = \frac{b^2 - 4ac}{4a^2}

  6. Solve for xx: Finally, we can find xx by taking the square root and solving: x=b2a±b24ac2ax = -\frac{b}{2a} \pm \frac{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

And there you have it! We end up with the quadratic formula: x=b±b24ac2ax = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

This shows that completing the square is a great way to find the quadratic formula!

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