Completing the Square

Standard form to Equation of

Circle

Process 1 variable
1. Group variables coefficient of first term should
be 1
2. Move other terms (usually integers or constant
to other side)
3. Take coefficient of the second term divide by 2
and square it
4. Add value from step 3 to both sides
5. Factor you have a trinomial and you are going
to make it a binomial squared
6. (x sign of second term square root of
third)squared

Example
x 6x 4 0
2

( x 6 x) 4
2

6

2

3 9
2

( x 6 x 9) 4 9
2

( x 3) 13
2

Try these

x 8x 2 0
2

3x x 7 0
2

2 Variables
What do you think you would do if
there were two variables squared, like
a circle.

x 4x y 6 y 4 0
2

Complete the square twice

Follow same six steps we discussed,
but do them for both the x variable
and the y variable.
2
2

x 4x y 6 y 4 0

When completing the square for each variable add the

value inside the ( )

Practice Due Wed

x 10 x y 2 y 1 0
2

x 12 x y 8 y 4 0
2

x 5x y 6 0
2

Come up with two questions to review for the test, can be from
quizzes or homework.