SOLUTION: i'm in pre-calculus and our teacher gave us an extra credit problem. It reads: Derive the quadratic formula. (Hint: Solve the general quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0 but a cann

Question 14211: i'm in pre-calculus and our teacher gave us an extra credit problem. It reads:
Derive the quadratic formula. (Hint: Solve the general quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0 but a cannot = 0)
How do i go about solving this? I need it for tomorrow. 10/7/05

thanks!!
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Try this:
Divide both sides by a.
Subtract c/a from both sides.
Now "complete the square" in x on the left side.
Factor the left side.
Simplify the right side and take the square root of both sides.
Simplify the radical.
Subtract b/2a from both sides.
Simplify.
Does this look familiar?
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