This week in Pre-Calc 11 we learned how to convert equations from general form to standard form using the completing perfect squares method. It is an important skill to understand both equations gives us vital information when solving a quadratic function.

Here are the two different forms

Let’s try an example, the first step is to divide the b variable by 2 then squaring it.

Now add both a positive and a negative of your sum from above, we do this because by adding both a positive and negative it leaves the equation unchanged, canceling out each other.

Now we convert the perfect trinomial into a binomial and tada! We have now successfully converted our general form equation into standard form.

Both forms give us different information, the standard gives us the vertex and the general gives us the y-intercept.