437,624 views
11 votes
11 votes
Rewrite the function by completing the square.

Rewrite the function by completing the square.-example-1
User Frank Adrian
by
2.5k points

1 Answer

23 votes
23 votes

Answer:

f(x) = (x -6)² +14

Explanation:

Completing the square involves writing part of the function as a perfect square trinomial.

Perfect square trinomial

The square of a binomial results in a perfect square trinomial:

(x -h)² = x² -2hx +h²

The constant term (h²) in this trinomial is the square of half the coefficient of the linear term: h² = ((-2h)/2)².

Completing the square

One way to "complete the square" is to add and subtract the constant necessary to make a perfect square trinomial from the variable terms.

Here, we recognize the coefficient of the linear term is -12, so the necessary constant is (-12/2)² = 36. Adding and subtracting this, we have ...

f(x) = x² -12x +36 +50 -36

Rearranging into the desired form, this is ...

f(x) = (x -6)² +14

__

Additional comment

Another way to achieve the same effect is to split the given constant into two parts, one of which is the constant necessary to complete the square.

f(x) = x² -12x +(36 +14)

f(x) = (x² -12x +36) +14

f(x) = (x -6)² +14

User Alex Shroyer
by
3.1k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.