In this lesson we’ll look at methods for factoring quadratic equations with coefficients in front of the x^2 term (that are not 1 or 0). Factoring means you’re taking the parts of an expression and rewriting it as parts that are being multiplied together (the factors). Factoring a quadratic equation means we will write equations of the form ax^2+bx+c into the form (px+r)(qx+s), where a, b, c, p, q, and s are all real numbers and a≠1,0.
Read MoreThe zeroes of a single-variable polynomial are the values of that variable at which the polynomial is equal to 0. Completing the square is a method we can use to find the zeroes of a quadratic polynomial. Another way to say this is that completing the square is a method we can use to solve the corresponding quadratic equation (the equation that has the quadratic polynomial on one side and 0 on the other side).
Read MoreFactoring of quadratic polynomials (second-degree polynomials) is done by “un-FOILing,” which means we start with the result of a FOIL problem and work backwards to find the two binomial factors.
Read MoreThe quadratic formula is another way to solve quadratics that we can’t easily factor. You can think of the quadratic formula as a short-cut for completing the square. In fact, it was discovered by completing the square.
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