Standard to Vertex form

Task: Change y=ax+bx+c to vertex form.

1. Start with the equation. y=ax+bx+c 2. Move c to the other side by subtracting. y-c= ax+bx 3. Separate a on right side by factoring. y-c=a(x+(b/a)x) Note: Dont worry. a(b/a)=b This didnt change anything. 4. Complete the square by adding (b/2a) to the right. Balance out the left side accordingly. y-c+a(b/2a) = a(x+(b/a)x+(b/2a) ) Note: Follow these diagrams to find out why (b/2a) completes the square.

5. Simplify the left side. y-c+a(b/4a)= a(x+(b/a)x+(b/2a) ) y-c+(b/4a)= a(x+(b/a)x+(b/2a) ) 6. Factor the x+(b/a)x+(b/2a) on the right side. It is easy to do now because we completed the square.

y-c+(b/4a)= a(x+(b/2a)) (x+(b/2a)) 7. Simplify the right side. y-c+(b/4a)= a(x+(b/2a)) 8. Move everything but y back to the right side. y= a(x+(b/2a)) -(b/4a)+c 9. Reorder. y= a(x+(b/2a)) +(c -(b/4a))

Lets try to divert the quadratic formula from this.

1. Instead of y, lets set this equal to 0 to make our lives easier. 0= a(x+(b/2a)) +(c -(b/4a)) 2. Subtract c -(b/4a) to the left side. (b/4a)-c= a(x+(b/2a)) 3. Divide by a in order to move it to the left side. ( (b/4a)-c)/a= (x+(b/2a)) 4. Simplify the left side. (b/4a)-(c/a)= (x+(b/2a)) 5. Move squared sign to left side. The left side should be square rooted now. Dont forget that it can be both positive and negative.

(b/4a) - (c/a) =x+(b/2a)

6. Subtract by (b/2a) and move it over to left side. We have x alone now. -(b/2a)

(b/4a) - (c/a) =x

7. Multiply (c/a) by 4a so we can combine it with (b/4a). Dont worry. (4ac/4a) is the same as (c/a) because fractions are ratios. -(b/2a)

(b/4a) - (4ac/4a) =x

8. Combine (b/4a) and (4ac/4a). -(b/2a)

b - 4ac =x 4a

9. Simplify 4a by square rooting it. This will allow us to combine this with -(b/2a). -(b/2a)

b - 4ac =x 2a b - 4ac . 2a

10. Combine -(b/2a) and - b b - 4ac =x 2a

Done. And we have the quadratic formula. As you can see, the vertex form is just the quadratic formula looking a little different. They are both the same thing. Of course, same goes for the standard form since that is what we started off with.

Reflection
Everything worked out fine and Im really satisfied with the results. Some parts were a little hard to explain but I finally got through. I had the most trouble explaining completing the square than anything else. It was just a given thing to me but I understand why people would get confused. I would too if I didnt know. I also choose to include diverting the quadratic formula from the vertex form which was something new. Im surprised at how fast it went. It would have been really frustrating if I didnt know how to put in square root signs and fractions but Im glad I got help with that. Otherwise everything went well. The math wasnt that hard, just more annoying because it was very general. And a special thanks to Mrs. Riling for tech support. (I know youre reading this.^W^)