Question 153·Hard·Equivalent Expressions
The expression above can be written in the form , where , , and are constants. What is the value of ?
(Express the answer as an integer)
For problems asking you to rewrite a quadratic in vertex form , first combine any given pieces into a single quadratic and write it in standard form . Then factor out from the and terms and complete the square inside the parentheses using the pattern . Finally, adjust the constant term outside to keep the expression equivalent, read off , , and from the vertex form, and compute whatever combination the question asks for. This systematic process is fast, reduces algebra errors, and works reliably on SAT questions of this type.
Hints
Start by simplifying the expression
First expand and combine like terms so the whole expression becomes a single quadratic in standard form .
Prepare to complete the square
After you have the simplified quadratic, factor out the coefficient of from the and terms so that you have something like .
Use the pattern for a perfect square trinomial
Inside the parentheses, complete the square: remember that . Use this pattern to rewrite the quadratic inside the parentheses, and then adjust the constant term outside so the expression stays equivalent.
Match the desired form
Once you have an expression of the form , carefully identify , , and and then add them together.
Desmos Guide
Enter the original expression
In Desmos, type f(x) = 4x^2 - 40x + 101 + (x - 5)^2 to graph the original quadratic function.
Set up a vertex-form model with sliders
On a new line, type g(x) = a(x - b)^2 + c. Desmos will create sliders for a, b, and c, which play the roles of , , and .
Match the graphs
Adjust the sliders for a, b, and c until the graph of g(x) lies exactly on top of the graph of f(x). The values of a, b, and c at that point correspond to , , and .
Compute the requested sum
Once the graphs match, read off the slider values for a, b, and c, then calculate from those numbers on your own (for example, using the Desmos calculator line if you wish).
Step-by-step Explanation
Expand and combine like terms
Start by expanding and then combining like terms.
- Expand:
Substitute this back into the expression:
Now combine like terms:
So the expression becomes:
Factor out the leading coefficient
To match the form , first factor out the coefficient of , which is 5, from the terms involving :
Now you will complete the square inside the parentheses.
Complete the square inside the parentheses
Focus on inside the parentheses.
To complete the square:
- Take half of the coefficient of : half of is .
- Square it: .
So,
(Subtract 25 to keep the expression equivalent.)
Substitute this back into the factored form:
Now distribute the 5:
Combine the constants:
Identify k, m, n and find their sum
Now the expression is written as:
This matches with:
Now compute :
So, the value of is .