Chapter 1: Problem 33
Find the perfect square trinomial whose first two terms are given. $$w^{2}+\frac{1}{2} w$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The perfect square trinomial is \(w^2 + \frac{1}{2} w + \frac{1}{16}\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the first and second terms
The given terms are: First term: \(w^2\)Second term: \(\frac{1}{2} w\)
02
Determine the coefficient of the second term
The coefficient of the second term is \( \frac{1}{2} \).
03
Divide the coefficient of the second term by 2
Divide \( \frac{1}{2} \) by 2 to find the middle term coefficient: \( \frac{1}{2} \div 2 = \frac{1}{4} \).
04
Square the result from Step 3
Square \( \frac{1}{4} \) to find the constant term of the perfect square trinomial: \[\left( \frac{1}{4} \right) ^2 = \frac{1}{16}.\]
05
Write the perfect square trinomial
Combine the original terms and the constant term found in Step 4: \[w^2 + \frac{1}{2} w + \frac{1}{16}.\]
06
Verify the perfect square trinomial
Check that the trinomial can be written as the square of a binomial: \[\left( w + \frac{1}{4} \right) ^2 = w^2 + \frac{1}{2} w + \frac{1}{16}.\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Trinomial
A trinomial is a type of polynomial with exactly three terms. In general, these terms are a combination of variables and constants combined using addition or subtraction. For instance, the expression you worked with,
- \[w^2 + \frac{1}{2}w + \frac{1}{16}\]
- \(w^2\): This is the quadratic term.
- \(\frac{1}{2}w\): This is the linear term.
- \(\frac{1}{16}\): This is the constant term.
Coefficients
Coefficients are the numerical factors in terms of an algebraic expression. For example, in the term
- \( \frac{1}{2}w \), the coefficient is \( \frac{1}{2} \).
- If you have a term like \( \frac{1}{2}w \), divide the coefficient (\( \frac{1}{2} \)) by 2 to assist in completing the square. For example, \( \frac{1}{2} \div 2 = \frac{1}{4} \).
- Next, square this result to find the constant term: \[ \left( \frac{1}{4} \right)^2 = \frac{1}{16}. \]
Factoring
Factoring is the process of breaking down an expression into simpler terms (factors) that, when multiplied together, produce the original expression. For the perfect square trinomial
- \[ w^2 + \frac{1}{2}w + \frac{1}{16} \]
- Write the given trinomial as a product of two binomials: Find two binomials that multiply to form the trinomial.
- Verify your factorization: Check if squaring the binomial gives back the original trinomial.
- \[ w^2 + \frac{1}{2}w + \frac{1}{16}\]
- \[ \left( w + \frac{1}{4} \right)^2. \]