SOLUTION: 1. Complete the square to solve the following quadratic equation for y. Show your work. ay^2 + by +c = 0 Why is this an important problem?

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Question 518603: 1. Complete the square to solve the following quadratic equation for y. Show your work.
ay^2 + by +c = 0
Why is this an important problem?
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Ah ha! Now that is different. This is an important problem because it gives you the general solution to the quadratic equation.

Add the opposite of the constant term to both sides:

Multiply both sides by the reciprocal of the lead coefficient:

Divide the first degree term coefficient by 2, square the result, and then add it to both sides:

Apply the common denominator in the RHS:

Factor the perfect square in the LHS:

Take the square root of both sides:

Add the opposite of the LHS constant term:

Now you can solve all quadratic equations of the form:

just by doing some arithmetic with the coefficients.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it