Question

Identify the steps to completing the square.

Answer 1

1. Start with ax^2 + bx + c = 0
2. Divide both sides by a to get: x^2 + (b/a)x + c/a = 0
3. Subtract c/a from both sides to get: x^2 + (b/a)x = -c/a
4. Take half of b/a and square it. That is (b/(2a))^2. Add that to both sides. Now you have
x^2 + (b/a)x + (b/(2a)^2 = (b/(2a))^2
5. Now rewrite the left side as the square of a binomial: (x + b/(2a) )^2 = (b/(2a))^2