Derivation of Quadratic Formula

A Quadratic Equation looks like this:

Start with Square root Move b/2a to right That is actually solved! But let's simplify it a bit: Multipl y right by 2a/2a Simplif y: Which is the Quadratic formula we all know and love:

And it can be solved using the Quadratic Formula:

That formula looks like magic, but you can follow the steps to see how it comes about.

1. Complete the Square

It is hard to handle an equation where "x" appears twice, but there is a way to rearrange it so that "x" only appears once. It is called "Completing the Square" (please read that first!). So, let's go: Start with Divide the equation by a Put c/a on other side Add (b/2a)2 to both sides The left hand side is now in the x2 + 2dx + d2 format, where "d" is "b/2a" So we can re-write it this way: "Complet e the Square"

2. Now Solve For "x"

Now we just need to rearrange the equation to leave "x" on the left