Deriving the Quadratic Formula

The “horrible looking” quadratic formula below

is actually derived using the steps involved in completing the square. It stems from the fact that any quadratic function or equation of the form $y = a{x^2} + bx + c$ can be solved for its roots. The “roots” of the quadratic equation are the points at which the graph of a quadratic function (the graph is called the parabola) hits, crosses or touches the x-axis known as the $x$-intercepts.

So to find the roots or x-intercepts of $y = a{x^2} + bx + c$, we need to let $y = 0$. That means we have

ax2 + bx + c = 0

From here, I am going to apply the usual steps involved in completing the square to arrive at the quadratic formula.

Steps on How to Derive the Quadratic Formula

Derivation of the quadratic formula is easy! Here we go…

• Step 1: Let $y = 0$ in the general form of the quadratic function $y = a{x^2} + bx + c$ where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are real numbers but $a \ne 0$.
• Step 2: Move the constant $\color{red}c$ to the right side of the equation by subtracting both sides by $\color{red}c$ .
• Step 3: Divide the entire equation by the coefficient of the squared term which is $\large{a}$.
• Step 4: Now identify the coefficient of the linear term $\large{x}$.
• Step 5: Divide it by $2$ and raise it to the 2nd power. Then simplify it further.
• Step 6: Add the output of step #5 to both sides of the equation.
• Step 8: Express the trinomial on the left side of the equation as the square of a binomial.
• Step 9: Take the square root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent $2$ of the binomial.
• Step 10: Simplify. Make sure that you attach the $\color{red} \pm$ on the right side of the equation. The left side no longer contains the power $2$.
• Step 11: Keep the variable $x$ on the left side by subtracting both sides by $\Large{b \over {2a}}$.
• Step 12: Simplify and we are done!

I hope that you find the step-by-step solution helpful in figuring out how the quadratic formula is derived using the method of completing the square.