Any idea on what this means?

Fill in the blank to make the expression a perfect square.
v^2-4v+?

Question

Any idea on what this means? 

Fill in the blank to make the expression a perfect square. 
v^2-4v+?

anonymous · Answer

4

anonymous · Answer

It would be 2. c:

anonymous · Answer

you take half of the -4, then square it

anonymous · Answer

so that's -2^2...which is 4 (this is called completing the square)

anonymous · Answer

@haiimawesome is right

anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry everybody, but do you mind each explaining your answer?

anonymous · Answer

haiimawesome's explanation is right.

anonymous · Answer

I'll bet she is but I would like to understand it (I'm not doubting you guys!)

anonymous · Answer

to complete the square, you take the -4, and divide it by two.  Then, you square that answer. THis gives you 4

anonymous · Answer

Ok following you so far.

anonymous · Answer

so that makes the equation: v^2 - 4v + 4

anonymous · Answer

So you are saying that v^2-4v+4 is a perfect square?

anonymous · Answer

that's it!

anonymous · Answer

how does that make it a perfect square? Just curious to find out the "why" in the how

anonymous · Answer

But you are doing a great job explaining the process :)

kirbykirby · Answer

It's a perfect square because you can factor it into a single "squared" term.. i.e. 
$v^2-4v+4 = (v-2)^2$