Solving quadratics by completing the square worksheet for Algebra 2
Algebra 2 completes the square with leading coefficients to divide out first and answers left as exact roots in simplest radical form. Done step by step on ax² + bx + c = 0, it produces the quadratic formula itself.
Also taught in Algebra 1, at its own level and with its own examples.
Not quite the one you need? Same words, different skill:
- Solving Quadratics by Factoring (Algebra 2). Factor, then set each factor to zero.
- Solving Quadratics by Square Roots (Algebra 2). Isolate the square, then take the root. Both of them.
- Completing the Square (Algebra 2). Vertex form, the missing c, and solving.
- Quadratics with Complex Solutions (Algebra 2). When the discriminant is negative, the answers are complex.
- Square Roots (Pre-Algebra). Perfect squares, and estimating the ones between.
Select your difficulty
Pick more than one for a sheet that mixes them.
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Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Solving by Completing the Square Date Period Solve each equation by completing the square.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
Sigma Prep · sigmaprep.io/worksheets Name Solving by Completing the SquareAnswer keyVersion 2 Date Period Solve each equation by completing the square.
Free math worksheets at sigmaprep.io/worksheets© 2026 Sigma Prep |
How to do these
- Divide by 2 and move the constant: x² - 6x = -7.
- Add (-3)² = 9 to both sides: (x - 3)² = 2.
- Take square roots: x - 3 = ±√2, then add 3.
The answer is .
Where students go wrong
Completing the square before dividing by the leading coefficient. Half of b only works when the x² coefficient is 1, so divide everything by 2 first.
Also called completing the square to solve or solving quadratics by the square root method.
What you can put on this worksheet
- Solve by completing the square
- →
- Odd b, or a leading coefficient
- →
- Rearrange first, irrational roots
- Solve by completing the square: →
- Starting from x^2 + bx = c, odd b
- Solve by completing the square: →