When do you use the quadratic equation, completing the square and factoring? @_@

Question

anonymous · Answer

You can use any of them. It only depends on what the teacher wants (which will be stated in the question) in your exam.

katrinakaif · Answer

You use the quadratic equation when you cannot find possible factors for an equation: 
-x^2 + 8x - 12 ..You would need to plug this into the equation as -1 = a 8 = b -12 = c and solve =)

Factoring is the most commonly used method to factor trinomials.. 
x2 + 3x + 10

anonymous · Answer

Or if you want to know when to use what, just take a look at the equation. If it can be factorized easily into two whole number roots, use factorization. If the equation has roots small fractions, you can use completing the square. If it comes to large numbers, use the quadratic formula. Well the quadratic formula actually originates from completing the square so you can straight away use the formula to solve an equation with roots that are not whole numbers.

whpalmer4 · Answer

For any real-life problem, you probably won't have nice integer coefficients, and then you'll find the quadratic equation much more convenient!