1. Algebra Tiles – Completing the Square
Visual Representation

2. Use algebra tiles to complete the square for the equation: x2 + 6x + 2 = 01 1

3. Step 1: Subtract 2 from each side to model x2 + 6x = -2

4. Step 2: Begin to arrange the x2 and x tiles into a square1 1 x = x x

5. Step 3: Add enough “1”s to complete the square
Then, add the same number to the other side x2 x x x 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 = x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1

6. Step 4: remove zero pairsx2 x x x 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 = x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1

7. = New equation: x2 + 6x +9 = 7 x2 x x x x 1 1 1 1 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 x 1 1