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Quadratic Formula Proof

This document provides a step-by-step proof of the quadratic formula. It begins with the standard form of a quadratic equation (ax^2 + bx + c = 0) and uses completing the square to isolate the x terms on one side of the equation. Through several algebraic steps of distributing, combining like terms, and factoring, the document arrives at the quadratic formula of x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac))/2a.

Uploaded by

Mario Calderon
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
93 views

Quadratic Formula Proof

This document provides a step-by-step proof of the quadratic formula. It begins with the standard form of a quadratic equation (ax^2 + bx + c = 0) and uses completing the square to isolate the x terms on one side of the equation. Through several algebraic steps of distributing, combining like terms, and factoring, the document arrives at the quadratic formula of x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac))/2a.

Uploaded by

Mario Calderon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2/5/2018 Quadratic formula proof review (article) | Khan Academy

Part 1: Completing the square


ax2 + bx + c = 0 (1)

ax2 + bx = −c (2)

b c
x2 + x=− (3)
a a

2b b2 b2 c
x + x+ 2 = 2 − (4)
a 4a 4a a

2
b b2 c
(x + ) = 2 − (5)
2a 4a a

Part 2: Algebra! Algebra! Algebra!


Remember, our goal is to solve for x.

b 2 b2 c
(x + ) = 2 − (5)
2a 4a a

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/quadratics/solving-quadratics-using-the-quadratic-formula/a/quadratic-formula-proof-review 1/3
2/5/2018 Quadratic formula proof review (article) | Khan Academy

2
b b2 4ac
(x + ) = 2 − 2 (6)
2a 4a 4a

b 2 b2 − 4ac
(x + ) = (7)
2a 4a2

2
b b2 − 4ac
(x + ) =± (8)
2a 4a2

b b2 − 4ac
x+ =± (9)
2a 4a2

b b2 − 4ac
x+ =± (10)
2a 2a

b b2 − 4ac
x=− ± (11)
2a 2a

−b ± b2 − 4ac
x= (12)
2a
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/quadratics/solving-quadratics-using-the-quadratic-formula/a/quadratic-formula-proof-review 2/3
2/5/2018 Quadratic formula proof review (article) | Khan Academy

And we're done!

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/quadratics/solving-quadratics-using-the-quadratic-formula/a/quadratic-formula-proof-review 3/3

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