BOBbing

After doing many "completing the square problems" and attempting to master the skill Mr. Jackson gave us one that would push our limits. We previously had learned about standard form (ax^2+bx+c), vertex form (a(x-h)^2+k) and intercept form ( a(x-p)(x-q) ) and the different ways to solve for the x-value in those equations. Like many of the formulas and rules we are taught in math, the quadratic formula has always "just worked". There has never been a reason for why we could solve a standard form equations using the quadratic formula but we have been using it as long as we've been working with quadratics. x= -b ±√(b-4ac) / 2a. When Mr. Jackson gave us ax^2+bx+c and asked us to solve the equation by completing the square, I was very overwhelmed by all the variables moving back and up and down. Finally, when he explained how to subtract "c", divide off "a", square, square root and eventually simplify, everything made total sense! It was very, very cool to see how the quadratic formula was made and it gave me a better understanding of the process and what we are actually doing when we solve quadratics!  I defiantly thought finding the quadratic formula was the "coolest" thing we've done this trimester!