Complete the square question?

G

Guest

Guest
Hi

what do I use as my a, b, c terms for complete the square with this equation:

x^2 + y^2 - 3y = 0


Thanks for all of your help.

Take care,
Beckie
 
What do "a", "b", and "c" stand for? Where are these variables coming from? How do they relate to the posted equation? (I have a feeling you are referring to some formula from your class, but I don't know what that formula might be.)

Thank you.

Eliz.
 
Hello, Beckie!

what do I use as my a, b, c terms for complete the square with this equation:

. . . x<sup>2</sup> + y<sup>2</sup> - 3y = 0
.
I wouldn't bother with designating a, b, c . . .


The x<sup>2</sup> is already a square.

We must complete-the-square on the y-terms.

We have: . x<sup>2</sup> + y<sup>2</sup> - 3y .= .0

. . Half of 3 is 3/2 . . . square: (3/2)<sup>2</sup> = 9/4


Add 9/4 to both sides: . x<sup>2</sup> + y<sup>2</sup> - 3y + 9/4 . = . 0 + 9/4

. . . . . . .and we have: . . . . x<sup>2</sup> + (y - 3/2)<sup>2</sup> . = . 9/4


We have a circle with center (0,3/2) and radius 3/2.
 
Thank you so much for figuring this out for me. I was trying to apply it to a formula and it wasn't working. I forgot about the format of dividing the middle term and squaring it.

Thank you so much for helping me with this.

Take care,
Beckie
 
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