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Exam Style Questions

Completing the Square

Equipment needed: Pen

Guidance

1. Read each question carefully before you begin answering it.

2. Check your answers seem right.
3. Always show your workings

Video Tutorial

[Link]/contents

Videos 10, 267a

Answers and Video Solutions

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1. Write x 2 + 8x + 6 in the form (x + a)2 + b, where a and b are constants.

…………………………….
(2)

2. Write x 2 + 12x − 1 in the form (x + a)2 + b, where a and b are constants.

…………………………….
(2)
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3. Express x 2 − 4x − 9 in the form (x − a)2 − b

…………………………….
(2)

4. Express x 2 + 6x + 25 in the form (x + a)2 + b

…………………………….
(2)
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5. Roz has been asked to write x 2 + 10x + 7 in the form (x + a)2 − b

Here is her working out.

Is Roz correct?
Explain your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………
(2)

6. Write x 2 − 3x + 7 in the form (x + a)2 + b

..............................
(3)

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7. Georgina rewrites the expression x 2 + px + q by completing the square.
She correctly obtains (x − 5)2 + 31

Work out the values of p and q.

p = ............... and q = .................

(3)

8. x 2 − 4x + b ≡ (x + a)2 + 11

Work out the values of a and b

a = ……………………….. b = ………………………..
(3)

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9. x 2 + 5a x + b ≡ (x + 20)2 − 3a

Work out the values of a and b

a = ……………………….. b = ………………………..
(3)

10. x 2 − 6x − 3 ≡ (x − a)2 − b,where a and b are constants

(a) Find the values of a and b.

a = ............... and b = .................

(3)

(b) Hence solve x 2 − 6x − 3 = 0

x = ……….………. or x = ……….……….
(3)
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11. Using completing the square, solve x 2 − 6x + 2 = 0

…………………………………………………….
(5)

12. Using completing the square, solve x 2 + 4x + 1 = 0

Give your answers in surd form.

…………………………………………………….
(5)
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13. Using completing the square, solve x 2 − 14x − 2 = 0
Give your answers in surd form.

…………………………………………………….
(5)

14. Express 3x 2 + 18x − 1 in the form a(x + b)2 + c

..............................
(3)
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15. Write 3x 2 − 12x + 4 in the form a(x + b)2 + c, where a, b and c are constants

………………………..
(4)

16. Use completing the square to find the minimum point of the curve
y = x 2 − 6x + 1

..............................
(4)
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17. Use completing the square to find the minimum point of the curve
y = x 2 + 4x + 7

..............................
(4)

18. A curve has equation y = x 2 − 10x + 20

(a) Write x 2 − 10x + 20 in the form (x − a)2 − b

...........................
(3)

(b) Write down the equation of the line of symmetry of y = x 2 − 10x + 20

...........................
(1)
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19. (a) Write x 2 + 8x − 7 in the form (x + a)2 − b

..............................
(2)

(b) Solve the equation x 2 + 8x − 7 =0

Give your answers in surd form.

x = ………………………… and x = …………………………

(3)

(c) Sketch the graph of y = x 2 + 8x − 7

Show the coordinates of the turning point and the coordinates of any
intercepts with the coordinate axes.

(4)
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20. The nth term of a sequence is n 2 − 6n + 13

By using completing the square, show that every term is positive.

(3)

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