Expert: Paul Klarreich - 5/21/2008

Question
hi,

At school i just started learning about the 'Turning Point Form'

I can do most of the stuff like plotting it on a graph, that stuff is easy but i
have to convert

^=squared

y=x^-6x

into the turning point form of,

y=a(x-b)^+c

Thanks

Answer
Questioner:   jordan
Category:  Advanced Math
Private:  No
 
Subject:  Turning Point Form
Question:  hi,

At school i just started learning about the 'Turning Point Form'

I can do most of the stuff like plotting it on a graph, that stuff is easy but I have to convert

^2=squared

y=x^2 - 6x

into the turning point form of,

y = a(x-b)^2 + c

Thanks
.................................
Hi, Jordan,

It's called Completing the Square:[look it up in the chapter on quadratic equations.  Practice it.]

y = x^2 - 6x

y = x^2 - 6x + 9 - 9  << add and subtract the 'completion'.

y = (x - 3)^2 - 9   << factor.

a = 1, b = 3, c = 9.  << match things up.