Activity
1. For each expression, find the value of to make a perfect square in standard form.
a.
16. Standard form: .
b.
25. Standard form: .
c.
16. Standard form: .
d.
T196. Standard form: .
2. For each expression, refer to your responses in question 1 to help write an equivalent expression in the form of squared factors.
a.
Compare your answer:
b.
Compare your answer:
c.
Compare your answer:
d.
Compare your answer:
3. Write your own pair of equivalent expressions.
a. Create an expression that is a perfect square trinomial in standard form .
Compare your answer:
Answers will vary. One expression in standard form is: .
b. Now write the same equivalent expression in the form of squared factors .
Compare your answer:
Answers will vary. Using the expression above, for example, the squared factor of would be .
4. Solve each equation by completing the square.
a.
Compare your answer:
b.
Compare your answer:
Self Check
Find the Value to Make a Perfect Square and Solve
In earlier lessons, we worked with perfect squares such as and . We learned that their equivalent expressions in standard form follow a predictable pattern:
- In general, can be written as .
- If a quadratic expression of the form is a perfect square, and the value of is 1, then the value of is , and the value of is for some value of .
In this lesson, the variable in the factors being squared had a coefficient other than 1, for example and . Their equivalent expression in standard form also followed the same pattern we saw earlier.
Squared factors | Standard form |
or | |
or |
In general, can be written as:
or
If a quadratic expression is of the form , then:
- the value of is
- the value of is
- the value of is
We can use this pattern to help us complete the square and solve equations when the squared term has a coefficient other than 1—for example: .
What constant term can we add to make the expression on the left of the equal sign a perfect square? And how do we write this expression as squared factors?
- 16 is , so the squared factors could be .
- 40 is equal to , so or . This means that .
- If is , then or .
- So the expression is a perfect square and is equivalent to .
Let's solve the equation by completing the square!
Step 1 -
To be a perfect square, is needed.
We found the by determining the square root of the first term, .
Step 2 -
Now, find the value of to make a perfect square.
Since , and we know that (from step 1), and that (from the coefficient of the linear term), we substitute the values and solve.
so
Step 3 -
Find
Step 4 -
Add to both sides of the equation.
Step 5 -
Factor and simplify.
Step 6 -
Take the square root of both sides. Remember the plus or minus.
Step 7 -
Write two equations and solve.
or
or
or
Try it
Try It: Find the Value to Make a Perfect Square and Solve
Solve .
Here is how to solve this equation by completing the square:
Step 1 - To be a perfect square, is needed.
Step 2 - Find the value of to make a perfect square.
, so .
Step 3 - Find .
Step 4 - Add to both sides.
Step 5 - Factor and simplify.
Step 6 - Take the square root of both sides. Remember the plus or minus.
Step 7 - Write two equations and solve.