# Complete the square

1. Oct 27, 2007

### solidus_E

this isn't really a homework problem

it's just me trying to understand a part of an example problem from a modern physics book

it's an integral of a wave packet, blah blah blah

but they go on to say "...to evaluate the integral, we first complete the square in the exponent as..."

$$ikx - a^2k^2 = - (ak - \frac{ix}{2a} )^2 - \frac{x^2}{4a^2}$$

how in the world does one arrive at that???

Last edited: Oct 27, 2007
2. Oct 27, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
3. Oct 27, 2007

### solidus_E

but it doesn't help

edit: nm, i see what's going on....but can someone explain wtf

Last edited: Oct 27, 2007
4. Oct 27, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
If you can elaborate on what exactly it is you're struggling with then perhaps someone can help you.

5. Oct 27, 2007

### solidus_E

getting started lol

how would you work with the $$a^2k^2$$

6. Oct 27, 2007

### arildno

$$ikx-a^{2}k^{2}=-((ak)^{2}-ikx))=-((ak)^{2}-2(ak)\frac{ix}{2a})$$
What must you add&subtract in order to generate an expression in which k is hidden away linearly within a square?

7. Oct 27, 2007

### solidus_E

where did you get the $$\frac{ix}{2a}$$

8. Oct 28, 2007

### arildno

$$ikx=1*ikx=\frac{2a}{2a}*ikx=2(ak)\frac{ix}{2a}$$

9. Oct 28, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
If you take a look at a general example it may help clarify. We use the fact that:

$$(x+b)^2 = x^2+2bx +b^2$$

which can be written as,

$$(x+b)^2 -b^2 = x^2 +2bx$$

Now if you look at what arildno has done in post number 6, hes written your equation in the form $x^2+2bx$ where $x=-(ak)$ and $b=\frac{ix}{2a}$. Now I'm sure you can confirm for yourself from here where they obtained the equation in your original post.