PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIALS

Any trinomial of the form ax2 + bx + c that can be

factored to be a (BINOMIAL Factor) squared
Sum Factors: Difference Factors:
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2 a2 - 2ab + b2 = (a - b)2
(1) 9x2 + 12x + 4 (2) x2 - 8x + 16

(3) 4x2 - 20x + 25 (4) x2 + 20x + 100

How do you make a perfect square trinomial?
• STEP 1: DIVIDE middle term value (b-value) by 2
• STEP 2: SQUARE it
• STEP 3: Make your step 2 answer the constant
FACTORS:
Binomial is add if middle term is positive
Binomial is subtract if middle term is negative

EXAMPLE: x2 + 6x + c EXAMPLE: x2 - 10x + c

Middle term: 6 Middle term: -10

Divide by 2: 3 Divide by 2: -5
Squared = 9 Squared = 25
x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3)2 x2 – 10x + 25 = (x - 5)2
Create Perfect Square Trinomials
Practice finding “c”
• x2 - 8x + c • x2 - 3x + c

• x2 + 10x + c • x2 + 9x + c
 Continued: Practice finding “c”
3 5 1
x  xc
2
x  xc
2
x  xc
2

4 6 2
 STEPS for COMPLETING THE SQUARE
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Step 1: Lead coefficient of x2 must be 1
• DIVIDE by “a” value
Step 2: Subtract current ‘c’ term
Step 3: Find value to make a perfect square trinomial
• Divide middle term, “bx”, by 2 and square
• Add that value to both sides of equation

Step 4: Factor (perfect square!)

*Shortcut = half of middle term is part of binomial factor*

Step 5: Solve for x

 Example: Solve by completing the square
• x2 + 6x + 4 = 0 - SUBTRACT 4

• x2 + 6x = - 4 -Find the constant value to

create a perfect square and
ADD to both sides
(half of 6 is 3, 3 squared is 9)

• x2 + 6x + 9 = -4 + 9 -FACTOR perfect square

trinomial

• (x + 3)2 = 5 -SOLVE for x:

Square root both sides
x3  5
Use plus or minus
x  3  5 (Check to simplify radical)
 Practice #1: Completing the Square
1. x 2
 4 x  11  0 2. x  12 x  13  0
2

3. x  5 x  2  0
3
x  7x   0
2 2
4.
4
 Example with leading coefficient
2x  4x  3  0
2 - Divide every number by 2
3
x  2x   0
2 - Add 3/2 on both sides
2
3 - Find c to make perfect
x  2x 
2
square trinomial
2
(half of 2 = 1, 1 squares = 1
3
x  2x  1   1
2
- Factor left side, combine
2
like terms on the right
5
( x  1) 
2 - Solve for x:
2 Square Root with plus/minus
Rationalize Fraction Radicals
 Practice #2: Completing the Square
1. 3x  9x  4  0
2
2. 2 x  11 x  3  0
2

3. 2x  8x  1  0
2
4. 5 x  12 x  2  0
2
 Practice: Equations with Complex Solutions
1. x 2  4 x  8  0 2. 2 x 2
 4x  3  0

3. x  6 x  10  0
2
4. 4 x 2  6 x  5  0
 Practice : Solve Equations to equal zero?
1. x  4 x  8  6 2. 2 x  4 x  3  3 x  5
2 2
3. x  8x  2  2x
2
4. 2 x  3 x  7  1  9 x
2