Deriving the Quadratic Formula

 

1

Now take out a as a common factor

22

Complete the square

22

so

2

Get rid of the square brackets

3

simplify

4

re-arrange

5

Divide through by a

6

Take the square root of both sides

7

Simplify again,

8

Make x the subject of the formula

9

which gives

10

© Alexander Forrest