GIVEN: quadratic in standard form y ax 2 bx c

GOAL: complete the square to write a quadratic in vertex form y a x h k

2

WORKING BACKWARDS
Start with vertex form

y 2 x 3 1
2

y 2 x 3 x 3 1
y 2 x2 6x 9 1
y 2 x 2 12 x 18 1
y 2 x 2 12 x 17
End with standard form

THE HARD QUESTION: Complete the square to write the quadratic

y 2 x 2 12 x 17 in vertex form.
THE SOLUTION TO THE QUESTION
y 2 x 2 12 x 17
y 17 2 x 2 12 x
y 17 2 x 2 6 x _____
2

2
1

____ 6 3 9
2

y 17 2 9 2 x 2 6 x 9
y 17 18 2 x 2 6 x 9
y 1 2 x 3

y 2 x 3 1
2

The vertex is 3,8 and the parabola is vertically stretched by a

WORKING BACKWARDS

factor of 2.
THE RIDICULOUSLY HARD QUESTION: Complete the square to write
the quadratic y 2 x 2 12 x 17 in vertex form.

Start with vertex form

2

3
2
y x 1
5
3
3
2
2
y x x 1
5
3
3
3
4
4
y x2 x 1
5
3
9
3
4
4
y x2 x 1
5
5
15
3 2 4
4 15
y x x
5
5
15 15
3 2 4
19
y x x
5
5
15

End with standard form

THE SOLUTION TO THE QUESTION

3
4
19
y x2 x
5
5
15
19 3
4
y x2 x
15 5
5
19 3
4

y x 2 x _____
15 5
3

1 4 2
4
____
9
2 3 3
19 3 4 3
4
4
y x2 x
15 5 9 5
3
9
19 4 3
2
y x
15 15 5
3
3
2
y 1 x
5
3

3
2
y x 1
5
3
2

The vertex is , 1 and the parabola is vertically shrunk by a

3

3
factor of .
5