SOLUTION: How do you find the vertex of this equation? x^2+3x-4?

Question 586056: How do you find the vertex of this equation? x^2+3x-4?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start with the given expression.

Take half of the coefficient to get . In other words, .

Now square to get . In other words,

Now add and subtract . Make sure to place this after the "x" term. Notice how . So the expression is not changed.

Group the first three terms.

Factor to get .

Combine like terms.

So after completing the square, transforms to . So .

So is equivalent to .

So the equation is now in vertex form where , , and

Remember, the vertex of is (h,k).

So the vertex of is (-3/2,-25/4).
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