Completing the square of an equation with multiple variables/coefficients

If you're doing this in order to graph it, you're going to have to plot (-3,-7), and then move 1 unit in the x direction (to the right) and \sqrt{789/60} units in the y direction. You do one of these for one axis, and the other for the other axis. This finds four points on the ellipse. You then draw a curve through them. (I'm not sure I know of a different way to graph an equation of an ellipse, unless you know what foci are.)I've put this into standard form. You can do the algebra from where you are if you want to know how to do that. (It's
  • #1
pugfug90
118
0
:tongue:

Homework Statement


For example, 3x^2 + 7x + 3y^2 -6y +3z^2 + 2z - 12..


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


On the quiz..
I first did it by..
(3x^2 + 7x + __) + (3y^2 - 6y + __) + (3z^2 + 2z + __) = 12
..
3(x^2 + 7x/3 + __) + 3(y^2 - 2y + __) + 3(z^2 + 2z/3 + __) = 12
..
3(x^2 + 7x/3 + 49/12) + 3(y^2 - 2y + 3) + 3(z^2 + 2z/3 + 1/3) = 12 + 49/12 + 3 + 1/3 = 19.42
(x+7/6)^2 + (y-1)^2 + (z-1/3)^2=19.42=233/12
Yeah.. I don't really know what to do with the 3s so I kind of ignored them.. Obviously I just divide by 3?..
==========
I redid the problem like..
3[(x^2+7x/3+__) + (y^2-2y+__)..etc
You get the deal..
Then I divided 12/3=4 and then yeah got answer to be 233/36.[real answer]

K. NOW to the problem:tongue: What if it were say.. 3x^2 +5x +7y^2 blah blah.. Anyone know how to complete the square of a equation with multiple variables/coefficients?
 
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  • #2
There's really no reason that I can think of to "get rid of" those 3's at the end, except perhaps if you're trying to put an equation into a standard form. Since each of your variables squared terms had a 3 on them, you could have quickly divided out 3 on the first step from both sides of the equation.


You made the most common mistake on these types of problems... allow me to illustrate with an example.
x^2 + 6x = 10
would become x^2 + 6x + 9 = 10 + 9

However, if we had a coefficient on the x^2 term...
3x^2 + 18x = 10
3 (x^2 + 6x) = 10
when you complete the square, it should be 3(x^2 + 6x +9) = 10 + 27

You may have written down a 9 on the left side, but in reality, you added 27 to the left side. Multiply it out to see.
Before: 3x^2 + 18x
Now, after you inserted that 9:
3x^2 + 18x + 27

That 3 that was factored out gets distributed to the 9. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest you always get rid of those factors first, before completing the square, but this isn't always possible (as in the case ofwriting the equation of an ellipse in standard form.)
 
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  • #3
3(x^2 + 6x +9) = 10 + 27
Yes I get that..
Then
(x^2 + 6x +9) =37/3
(x+3)^2=37/3

But.. what if I get

3x^2 + 18x + 5 y^2 + 7x = 10

yeah..
 
  • #4
3(x2+ 6x)+ 5(y^2+ (7/5)x)= 10

6/2= 3 and 32= 9 so add 9 inside the parentheses for the x part.

(7/5)/2= 7/10 and (7/10)2= 49/100 so add 49/100 inside the parentheses for the y part.

3(x2+ 6x+ 9)+ 5(y^2+ (7/5)x+ 49/100)= 10+ 3(9)+ 5(49/100)

3(x+ 3)2+ 5(y+ 7/10)2= 37+ 49/20= 789/20

(That's the equation of an ellipse.)
 
  • #5
i don't mean to ask a stupid question nor interrupt but how would you type an exponent. I've looked all over Microsoft word and other places but can't seem to find it.
 
  • #6
Corkery said:
i don't mean to ask a stupid question nor interrupt but how would you type an exponent. I've looked all over Microsoft word and other places but can't seem to find it.

Either x [ sup ]2 [/ sup ] (without the spaces) or LaTex: [ tex] x^2 [ / tex], again, withoiut the spaces.
 
  • #7
thanks. That really helps a lot because I'm new to the forums.

so 2x^ woulod 2x squared? and if that is correct then what is cubed and an exponent to the fourth power typed?

thanks,
corkery
 
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  • #8
3(x+ 3)2+ 5(y+ 7/10)2= 37+ 49/20= 789/20

Ohhh.. So keep the coefficient out.. Ahha.. I can also distribute the coefficient back into the "thing" after I figure out the sum on the right though, right?
 
  • #9
I'm not sure what you mean by "the thing".
Assuming you understand everything up to the point you're at in the post above, then if you wanted to put this equation of an ellipse into its standard form
[tex]\frac{(x-h)^2}{a^2}+\frac{(y-k)^2}{b^2}=1[/tex]

then you'll want to multiply both sides by 20/789.

This is going to leave you with
[tex]\frac{60(x+3)^2}{789}+\frac{100(y+7)^2}{789}=1[/tex]

That 3 and 5 are still out in front, as coefficients (although, now multiplied by 20)
This just needs a little tweaking to get rid of that 60 and 100 in the numerators. So, simply multiply the numerator and denominator of the first term by 1/60 and do the same for the second term with 1/100.
This gives:
[tex]\frac{(x+3)^2}{789/60}+\frac{(y+7)^2}{789/100}=1[/tex]

Thus, the center of your ellipse is (-3,-7), and (as I refer to them conceptually), the x-radius is [tex]\sqrt{789/60}[/tex] and the y-radius is [tex]\sqrt{789/100}[/tex]

Some teachers prefer that you leave the 60 and 100 coefficients in the numerator. This last step is merely to show you how to find the values of a and b.
 
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1. What is completing the square?

Completing the square is a technique used in algebra to convert a quadratic equation into a perfect square trinomial. This allows for easier solving and graphing of the equation.

2. Why do we need to complete the square?

Completing the square is needed to solve quadratic equations that cannot be easily factored or solved using other methods. It also allows for finding the vertex and other key points of a parabola when graphing.

3. How do you complete the square for an equation with multiple variables?

To complete the square for an equation with multiple variables, the basic steps are the same as for a single variable equation. However, you will need to group the terms with the same variable together before completing the square.

4. Can completing the square be used for equations with coefficients other than 1?

Yes, completing the square can be used for equations with coefficients other than 1. The process is slightly different, but the end result is still a perfect square trinomial that can be solved easily.

5. Are there any real world applications of completing the square with multiple variables/coefficients?

Completing the square with multiple variables/coefficients can be used in physics and engineering to model and solve real-world problems involving quadratic equations. It can also be used in economics and finance to analyze and predict trends in data.

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