Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 17:00:26 -0600 Hi my name is Eric and I m in 8th Grade honors math (middle) and I'd like to know how to prove the quadratic formula -b±sqrt of b(a)(c)over 2(a) Hi Eric, The standard way to derive the general quadratic formula is to "complete the square". Here is an example. Solve
First divide by the coefficient of x squared
To complete the square add, to both sides, the square of half the coefficient of x.
Thus
or
To derive the formula consider the equation
and go through the same steps as in the example
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