Hi Everyone!
On this page you will find some material about Lesson 7. Read through the material below, watch the videos, and follow up with your instructor if you have questions.
Lesson 7: Square Root Property and
Completing the Square
Table of Contents
Resources
In this section you will find some important information about the specific resources related to this lesson:
- the learning outcomes,
- the section in the textbook,
- the WeBWorK homework sets,
- a link to the pdf of the lesson notes,
- a link to a video lesson.
Learning Outcomes.
- Use the square root property.
- Solve quadratic equations by completing the square.
Topic. This lesson covers Section 7.1: Square Root Property and Completing the Square.
WeBWorK. There are two WeBWorK assignments on today’s material:
SquareRootProperty
Lesson Notes.
Video Lesson.
Video Lesson 7 (based on Lesson 7 Notes)
Warmup Questions
These are questions on fundamental concepts that you need to know before you can embark on this lesson. Don’t skip them! Take your time to do them, and check your answer by clicking on the “Show Answer” tab.
Warmup Question 1
Simplify $\sqrt{72}$.
Show Answer 1
\begin{align*}\sqrt{72} &= \sqrt{36\cdot 2} \\ &= \sqrt{36}\sqrt{2}\\ &= 6 \sqrt 2\end{align*}
Warmup Question 2
Solve $x^2=49$.
Show Answer 2
$$x^2=49$$
$$7^2=49 \quad\text\quad (-7)^2=49$$
So $x=-7, 7$.
The solution set is $\{-7,7\}$.
Warmup Question 3
Expand $(x+a)^2$.
Show Answer 3
\begin{align*}(x+a)^2&=(x+a)(x+a)\\&=x^2+2ax+a^2\end{align*}
Warmup Question 4
Expand $(x-a)^2$.
Show Answer 4
\begin{align*}(x-a)^2&=(x-a)(x-a)\\&=x^2-2ax+a^2\end{align*}
Review
If you are not comfortable with the Warmup Questions, don’t give up! Click on the indicated lesson for a quick catchup. A brief review will help you boost your confidence to start the new lesson, and that’s perfectly fine.
Need a review? Check Lesson???
Quick Intro
This is like a mini-lesson with an overview of the main objects of study. It will often contain a list of key words, definitions and properties – all that is new in this lesson. We will use this opportunity to make connections with other concepts. It can be also used as a review of the lesson.
A Quick Intro to the Square Root Property and Completing the Square
Key Words. Square Root Property, solving a quadratic equation, completing the square
In the Warmup Question 2, we saw that the solutions to $x^2=49$ are $x=-7$ and $7$. We can think of these solutions as being $x=\pm\sqrt{49}=\pm 7$.
$\bigstar$ Square Root Property: If $x^2=a$ then $x=\pm\sqrt a$.
$\bigstar$ Solving a quadratic equation: The Square Root Property allows us to solve a quadratic equation as long as there is a square on one side and a number on the side.
$$\underbrace{x^2}_{\text{square}}=\underbrace{a}_{\text{number}}$$
The square does not have to be $x^2$. It could be $(x-5)^2$, for example. This will be the case when the equation involves a term with $x$ like in
$$x^2-10x=-21.$$
In this example, the term $-10x$ prevents us from isolating $x^2$ on one side so that a number is left on the other side. By adding a specific number to $x^2-10x$, we can make it a square. This process is called completing the square. Let’s find out which number we need to add. In the Warmup Question 4 we saw that
$$x^2-2ax+a^2 = \underbrace{(x-a)^2}_{\text{square}}.$$
Let’s compare the coefficients of $x$ in $x^2-2ax+a^2$ and $x^2-10x$:
$$-2a\quad\text{ and }\quad -10.$$
If we set them to be the same, we get
$$-2a=-10,$$
So $a=5$. The missing term is $a^2=5^2=25$. Let’s return to the original equation:
$$x^2-10x=-21$$
We add 25 to both sides:
$$x^2-10x+25 = -21+25$$
The left side now looks like $x^2-2ax+a^2$ which is $(x-a)^2$. So
$$\underbrace{(x-5)^2}_{\text{square}}=4$$
By the Square Root Property,
\begin{align*} x-5&=\pm \sqrt 4\\ x-5&=\pm 2\\x &=5\pm 2\\x&= 5-2, 5+2\\ x&=3,7\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{3,7\}$.
Video Lesson
Many times the mini-lesson will not be enough for you to start working on the problems. You need to see someone explaining the material to you. In the video you will find a variety of examples, solved step-by-step – starting from a simple one to a more complex one. Feel free to play them as many times as you need. Pause, rewind, replay, stop… follow your pace!
Video Lesson
A description of the video
In this video you will see the following equations:
- $x^2=4$
- $x^2=8$
- $(x-2)^2=4$
- $(x-2)^2=27$
- $(x-2)^2=-18$
- $x^2+4x+4=20$
- $x^2+6x-54=0$
- $2x^2+10x-5=0$
- $ax^2+bx+c=0$, $a\neq 0$
Try Questions
Now that you have read the material and watched the video, it is your turn to put in practice what you have learned. We encourage you to try the Try Questions on your own. When you are done, click on the “Show answer” tab to see if you got the correct answer.
Try Question 1
Solve $x^2=9$ by using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 1
\begin{align*} x^2&=9 \\x&=\pm\sqrt 9\\x&=\pm 3\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-3,3\}$.
Try Question 2
Solve $x^2=300$ by using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 2
\begin{align*} x^2&=300\\x &=\pm \sqrt{300}\\x&=\pm\sqrt{100\cdot 3}\\x&=\pm\sqrt{100}\sqrt{3} \\ x &=\pm 10\sqrt 3\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-10\sqrt 3, 10\sqrt 3\}$.
Try Question 3
Solve $(x+3)^2=9$ by using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 3
\begin{align*} (x+3)^2&=9\\x+3 &=\pm \sqrt{9}\\x+3 &=\pm 3\\x&=-3\pm 3\\ x&=-6,0\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-6,0\}$.
Try Question 4
Solve $(x-7)^2=18$ by using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 4
\begin{align*} (x-7)^2&=18\\x-7 &=\pm \sqrt{18} \\ x-7&=\pm 3\sqrt 2 \\x&=7\pm 3\sqrt 2\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{7-3\sqrt 2,7+3\sqrt 2\}$.
Try Question 5
Solve $(x+3)^2=-20$ by using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 5
\begin{align*}(x+3)^2&=-20\\x+3 &=\pm \sqrt{-20}\\x+3&=\pm 2\sqrt 5i\\x&=-3\pm 2\sqrt 5i\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-3- 2\sqrt 5i,-3+ 2\sqrt 5i\}$.
Try Question 6
Solve $x^2+6x+9=5$ by completing the square and using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 6
\begin{align*} x^2+6x+9&=5\\x^2+6x& =-4\\x^2+6x+9&=-4+9\\(x+3)^2&=5\\x+3&=\pm\sqrt 5\\x&=-3\pm\sqrt 5\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-3-\sqrt 5,-3+\sqrt 5\}$.
Try Question 7
Solve $x^2+10x+5=0$ by completing the square and using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 7
\begin{align*}x^2+10x+5&=0 \\x^2+10x& =-5\\x^2+10x+25&=-5+25\\(x+5)^2&=20\\x+5&=\pm\sqrt {20}\\x&=-5\pm 2\sqrt 5\end{align*}
The solution set is $\{-5-2\sqrt 5,-5+2\sqrt 5\}$.
Try Question 8
Solve $3x^2+6x+4=0$ by completing the square and using the Square Root Property.
Show Answer 8
\begin{align*}3x^2+6x+4&=0\\3(x^2+2x) &=-4\\3(x^2+2x+1)&=-4+3\\3(x+1)^2&=-1\\(x+1)^2&=-\dfrac{1}{3}\\x+1&=\pm\sqrt {-\dfrac{1}{3}}\\x&=-1\pm \dfrac{\sqrt 3}{3}i\end{align*}
The solution set is $\left\{-1- \dfrac{\sqrt 3}{3}i, -1+ \dfrac{\sqrt 3}{3}i\right\}$.
WeBWorK
You should now be ready to start working on the WeBWorK problems. Doing the homework is an essential part of learning. It will help you practice the lesson and reinforce your knowledge.
WeBWork
It is time to do the homework on WeBWork:
SquareRootProperty
When you are done, come back to this page for the Exit Questions.
Exit Questions
After doing the WeBWorK problems, come back to this page. The Exit Questions include vocabulary checking and conceptual questions. Knowing the vocabulary accurately is important for us to communicate. You will also find one last problem. All these questions will give you an idea as to whether or not you have mastered the material. Remember: the “Show Answer” tab is there for you to check your work!
Exit Questions
$\bigstar$ (a) Solve by using the Square Root Property.
$$(5x-2)^2-3=4$$
$\bigstar$ (b) Solve by completing the square and applying the Square Root Property.
$$x^2+x-5=0$$
Show Answer
(a)
\begin{align*}(5x-2)^2-3&=4 \\(5x-2)^2&=7 \\5x-2& =\pm \sqrt 7 \\5x&= 2\pm\sqrt 7 \\x&=\dfrac{2\pm\sqrt 7}{5}\end{align*}
The solution set is $\left\{\dfrac{2+\sqrt 7}{5}, \dfrac{2-\sqrt 7}{5}\right\}$.
(b)
\begin{align*}x^2+x-5&=0\\x^2+x&=5 \\ x^2+x+\dfrac{1}{4} &=5 +\dfrac{1}{4} \\ \left(x+\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^2 &= \dfrac{21}{4}\\x+\dfrac{1}{2} &= \pm \dfrac{\sqrt{21}}{2}\\ x &= -\dfrac{1}{2} \pm \dfrac{\sqrt{21}}{2} \\ x &= \dfrac{-1\pm\sqrt{21}}{2} \end{align*}
The solution set is $\left\{\dfrac{-1-\sqrt{21}}{2}, \dfrac{-1+\sqrt{21}}{2}\right\}$.
Need more help?
Don’t wait too long to do the following.
- Watch the additional video resources.
- Talk to your instructor.
- Form a study group.
- Visit a tutor. For more information, check the tutoring page.
