Derivation of Quadratic Formula

A Quadratic Equation looks like this:

And it can be solved using the Quadratic Formula:

That formula looks like magic, but you can follow the steps to see how it comes about.

1. Complete the Square

It is hard to handle an equation where "x" appears twice, but there is a way to rearrange it so that
"x" only appears once. It is called "Completing the Square" (please read that first!).

So, let's go:

Start with

Divide the equation by a

Put c/a on other side

Add (b/2a)2 to both sides

The left hand side is now in the x2 + 2dx + d2 format, where "d" is "b/2a"
So we can re-write it this way:

"Complete the Square"

2. Now Solve For "x"

Now we just need to rearrange the equation to leave "x" on the left

Start with

Square root

Move b/2a to right

That is actually solved! But let's simplify it a bit:

Multiply right by 2a/2a

Simplify:

Which is the Quadratic formula we all know and love: