Example :

2
y=x −2 x +3
First, group the Xs together :

y=( x −2 x ) +3
2

Next, complete the square (but don’t touch the constant) :

y=( x −2 x +1 )−1+3
2

The reason for the -1 is so that the true value of the equation does not change.

If we simplify the equation by adding 1 and -1 together, we will end up with the same equation that we
started with.
2
y=x −2 x +3 < this equation
Simplify the trinomial :

y=(x−1)2−1+3
Simplify the constants (numbers outside the parenthesis) :

y=(x−1)2+ 2
Note: if the equation is
Find the value where x is equal to zero (basically the
reverse of negative 1 or whatever number is there) y=(x +1)2 +2
The final answer is : Then x is just the reverse of 1, which is -1
The Vertex is (1, 2)

Example 4: when the coefficient of x is a fraction

y=
−1 2
2
x −x +9 groupthe Xs
→
−1 2
2 (
x −x +9 )
1
In order to take out , you need to divide the coefficient of x by it as well (in this case it’s 1)
2
−1 2
y= ( x +2 x ) + 9 complete the square y= −1 ( x 2+ 2 x +1−1 ) + 9
2 → 2
−1
You still have to multiply -1 to in order to get it outside of the parenthesis.
2
−1 2
y= ( x +2 x+1 ) + 1 +9 simplify y =−1 ( x +1 )2 + 19
2 2 → 2 2
And so;
The Vertex is −1, ( 19
2 )
Example 2 : coefficient of x > 1 (basically instead of x2 you have 2x2 or 3x2)

y=2 x 2+ 4 x +7
Frist group the Xs :

y=( 2 x +4 x ) +7
2

Take out the 2 or whatever the coefficient of x is (the one highlighted in blue is the coefficient) :

y=2 ( x +2 x ) +7
2

Next complete the square :

y=2 ( x +2 x +1−1 )+ 7
2

Why is -1 inside the parenthesis? it’s because of the 2 beside the parenthesis (highlighted in blue)

To get -1 out of the parenthesis, we need to multiply it by 2 first.

y=( x +2 x+ 1 )−2+7 < we end up with this equation

2

Simplify the trinomial and the constant.

y=2( x+1)2+ 5 In this case, we don’t multiply 2 to -1.

The vertex is (-1, 5)

Example 3: when the coefficient of x is not divisible by the coefficient of x2 (just read instead of thinking about it)

y=x 2 + x +3=( x 2 + x ) +3
Complete the square (this is where you start to see the fractions) :

1 1 1
y=(x ¿ ¿ 2+ x + )− + 3¿
2 4 4
Simplify (you have to turn 3 into a fraction) :

1 2 1 12 1 2 11
y=(x + ) − + = x + +
4 4 4 4 4 ( ) Note: DONOT change into a mixed number

1 11
The Vertex is (− , ¿
4 4

About this function:

 2
y=q( x−h) +k
q determines the direction of the parabola (the function) if it is negative, the parabola is directed to the
negative x direction, if it is positive it is directed to the positive x direction.

y=q( x−h)2 < if you get a function that looks like this it’s vertex is on the x-axis.