Educator

Completing the Square

• You can solve quadratic equations by taking the square root of both sides of the equation. To do this, the quadratic expression must be a perfect square.

• Complete the square to make the quadratic expression into a perfect square. Take one half of the coefficient of the linear term, square it, and add it to both sides of the equation.

• If the coefficient of the quadratic term is not 1, you must first factor this coefficient out of the quadratic and linear term and then complete the square for the new quadratic expression which now has a coefficient of 1.