Completing the Square


  1. Click on the "New Function" Button if you want the computer to generate a quadratic for you or on the "Create Your Own" button if you want to create your own quadratic.

  2. Follow the instructions and hit the "enter" key when you have finished entering each step. Please use fractions such as 2/3 not decimals.


When you have explored with the applet enough that you feel that you are comfortable with completing the square, try the following written exercises. Please answer each with a few complete sentences and then back up each answer with an example.

Written Exercises

  1. What are the steps in completing the square of a quadratic?

  2. In the graph of y = a(x - h)2 + k, what do the a, h, and k represent?



Information on completing the square

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