Completing the Square

Question 1

What does it mean to “Complete the Square”?

Answer 1

Completing the square means rewriting a quadratic ax^2 + bx + c in the form a(x + p)^2 + q

Question 2

How do you complete the square?

Answer 2

First, factor the number a from the terms involving x. Second, add and subtract the square of half the coefficient of x.