Name:

Period:

Topic:

Date:

Main Ideas

Solving a
quadratic
by
factoring
What if we
couldnt
factor the
quadratic?

Notes
Solve the following equation for x:
x2 + 5x + 6 = 0

We call x2 + 8x + 16 a ________________________________ because it is the

square of a binomial: (x + 4)2 = _______________________________________
___________________________________.
If a quadratic equation is not factorable, we can solve for x by _____________
_______________________.
If we are given x2 + 8x

We may ____________________________________
by making the polynomial a _________________
____________________________.

Basic Idea
of
Completing
the square

First: Take of the linear coefficient then square the number and add it to
the quadratic equation:

Then: Factor your quadratic equationyou should get the same binomial
multiplied by itself!
Complete the square given x2 + 4x
First:

You
Try

Then:
Complete the square given x2 7x
First:
Then:

Label the parts of the standard form of the quadratic equation:

y=ax2+bx+c

Complete the Square! x2-4x-7 = 0

Step 1:

Step 2:

Steps for
Completing
the square
to solve
for x given
an
equation
of the form
ax2+bx+c=0

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Step 8:

You try

Solve for x on your own in the following equation by completing the square:
x2 + 10x + 24 = 0

Name: Key

Period:

Topic:

Date:

Main Ideas

Solving a
quadratic
by
factoring

Notes
Solve the following equation for x:
x2 + 5x + 6 = 0

(x + 2)(x + 3) = 0
x+2=0
x+3=0
x = -2 and x = -3
We call x2 + 8x + 16 a ______perfect

square trinomial______ because it is the

2
4)2 = _____(x + 4)(x + 4) = x + 4x + 4x + 16 =

What if we square of a binomial: (x +

couldnt
x2 + 8x + 16________________________.
factor the
quadratic? If a quadratic equation is not factorable, we can solve for x by _completing
the square______________.
If we are given x2 + 8x

1 is the
quadratic
Basic Idea coefficient

We may _________complete

the square__________

by making the polynomial a ___________perfect

8 is the linear
coefficient

square trinomial___________.

of
First: Take of the linear coefficient then square the number and add it to
Completing the quadratic equation:
the square 8 * = 4 > > > > 42 = 16 > > > > x2 + 8x + 16
Then: Factor your quadratic equationyou should get the same binomial
multiplied by itself!

(x + 4)(x + 4)
Complete the square given x2 + 4x
First:

You
Try

4 * = 2 > > > > 22 = 4 > > > > x2 + 4x + 4

Then:

(x + 2)(x + 2)
Complete the square given x2 7x
First:

-7 * = -7/2 > > > > (-7/2)2 = 49/4 > > > > x2 - 7x + 49/4
Then:

(x 7/2)(x 7/2)

Label the parts of the standard form of the quadratic equation:

y=ax2+bx+c

quadratic coefficient

constant

linear coefficient

Complete the Square! x2-4x-7 = 0

Step 1:

Write the quadratic in standard form

ax2 + bx + c = 0
Step 2:

Steps for
Completing
the square
to solve
for x given
an
equation
of the form
ax2+bx+c=0

Add or subtract the constant term

from each side
Step 3:

Divide every term by the leading

coefficient (the quadratic coefficient)

x2 - 4x - 7 = 0

x2 4x = 7

x2 - 4x = 7
1
1
1

Step 4:

x2 4x + 4 = 7 + 4
or
x2 4x + 4 = 11

Step 5:

(x - 2)2 = 11

Divide the linear coefficient by 2 and

square the solution. Add this to both
sides of the equation.
Factor the trinomial (it is a perfect
square trinomial!)
Step 6:

Take the square root of both sides

Step 7:

Solve for x
Step 8:

Identify your solutions

(x - 2)2 = 11

11
x = 2 11

x2=

x = 2 +11
x = 2 -11

You try

Solve for x on your own in the following equation by completing the square:
x2 + 10x + 24 = 0

Answers: x = -4 and x = -6 (Can be done by factoring!)