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Belgium Campus –

Algebr
MAT1x1

a
Completion of the
square

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Completion
of the square
Used to solve quadratic equations
Used to derive the quadratic formula

Why is it called completion of the

square?
Because we add a term to convert the quadratic expression
into something that factors as the square of a binomial.

What is a
square?
It is the product of an integer with
itself e.g. 9 (from 3x3)

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1 Move all terms to the LHS(left hand side) so that the RHS(right hand side) is equal to zero.

Completion example is already in that

format

of the square
THE STEPS
2 Is a = 1? If not divide the whole equation by a.

in this example a = 1, so nothing

Use completion of the square to
changes
find the roots of:

2
𝑥 −12 𝑥 +35=0 3 Move c to the right hand side.

𝑥2 −12 𝑥 =−35

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4 Divide b by 2, square it and add it to the left and right.

Completion 𝑥2 −12 𝑥 =−35

of the square
THE STEPS
Divide by
2
( )
− 12
𝟐 Square it

( )
𝟐
Use completion of the square to
find the roots of:
− 12
2
𝑥2 −12 𝑥 +35=0

−12 2
( ) ( )
2
2 −12
𝑥 −12 𝑥 + =−35+
2 2

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−12 2
( ) ( )
2
2 −12
𝑥 −12 𝑥 + =−35+
2 2
Completion
of the square 5 Simplify the equation.

2 2
THE STEPS
𝑥 − 12 𝑥 + ( −6 ) =− 35+36

Use completion of the square to

𝑥2 − 12 𝑥 +(− 6 )2=1
find the roots of: Click to add text

𝑥2 −12 𝑥 +35=0 6 Factorise the LHS.

( 𝑥 − 6 ) 2 =1

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( 𝑥 − 6 ) 2=1

Completion 7 Find the square root of the LHS and RHS.

of the square √( 𝑥 −6 ) 2
= √1

THE STEPS

8 Simplify
Use completion of the square to
find the roots of:
𝑥 − 6 =± 1
𝑥 =± 1+ 6
𝑥2 −12 𝑥 +35=0

9 Solve for x.

𝑥 =− 1 +6 𝑜𝑟 1 +6
𝑥 =5 𝑜𝑟 7

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4 𝑥 2 +16 𝑥+20=0
Completion 𝑥2 + 4 𝑥+5=0
of the square
a = 4 so we divide the whole equation by 4.

THE STEPS 𝑥2 + 4 𝑥=−5 Move c to the right-hand side.

( )
4 2
( )
Use completion of the square to 2
2 4
find the roots of: 𝑥 + 4 𝑥+ =−5+ Divide b by 2, square it and add it to the left and right.
2 2
4 𝑥 2 +16 𝑥=−20
2 2
𝑥 + 4 𝑥+ ( 2 ) =−5+ 4 Simplif
y

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2
( 𝑥+2 ) =−1 Factoris

Completion e

of the square √ ( 𝑥+2 ) =√ −1

2
Find the square root of the LHS and RHS.

THE STEPS

Use completion of the square to 𝑥=−2 ± √ −1

find the roots of:

𝑥=−2 ± 𝑖
4 𝑥 2 +16 𝑥=−20
√ −1
This is an imaginary number aka i.

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Remember an expression has no RHS.

Completion Complete the square for the following expression:

of the square
How would you complete the
square for an expression?

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Completion
of the square
How would you complete the
square for an expression?

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Comprehension
check
Question 1
Complete the square for each of the following.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Question 2
Solve the following equations using completion of the square method.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

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Solutions
Question 1
Question 2
a.
a. /
b. b. /
c. c.
d.
d.
e.
e.
f. Question 3

f.
g.
h.

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Comprehension
check
Question 3

Find the minimum value of each of the following.

a.

b.

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