standard_description: Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
problem_activity: Task
In ''Building an explicit quadratic function'' a particular quadratic function was rewritten by completing the square. The quadratic function used was $q(x) = 2x^2 + 4x - 16$ and this function was rewritten as $$ q(x) = 2\left(x+1\right)^2 - 18 = 2\left((x+1)^2 - 9\right). $$ Some of the advantages to this form are that the $x$-coordinate of the vertex of the graph of $q$ can be found more easily and the two roots of $q$ can also be found readily. The right hand side of this equation can be seen as a horizontal translation by $-1$, then squaring, then a vertical translation by $-9$, and finally a multiplicative scaling by $2$. The goal of this task is first to employ the same technique on a general quadratic function and then derive the quadratic formula. To assist in this process, we first rewrite the equation above: $$ \frac{q(x)}{2} = \left(x+1\right)^2 - 9. $$
Let $f$ be a quadratic function, so we have $$ f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. $$ Here $a,b,c$ are real numbers and we assume that $a$ is non-zero.
Following the lead of our example problem, we begin by dividing out the leading coefficient:
Multiplying $f(x)$ by $\frac{1}{a}$ gives $$ \frac{f(x)}{a} = x^2 + \frac{b}{a}x + \frac{c}{a}. $$ We wish to write this as the square of a linear function $x + d$ plus a constant. Find numbers $d$ and $k$ so that $\frac{f(x)}{a} = (x+d)^2 + k$.
Using the values for $d$ and $k$ found in part (b), rewrite $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ as $$ \frac{f(x)}{a} = \left(x+d\right)^2 + k. $$ Why do the expressions $f(x)$ and $\frac{f(x)}{a}$ have the same roots?
Explain how to deduce the quadratic formula for the roots of $f$ from part (c).


aligns: no