Completing the Square Calculator
Complete squares step by step
The calculator will try to complete the square for the given quadratic expression, ellipse, hyperbola, or any polynomial expression, with steps shown.
Solution
Your input: complete the square in $$$\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 2 x - 1$$$.
Add and subtract $$$2$$$:
$$$\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 2 x - 1=\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 2 x - 1 + {\color{red}{\left(2\right)}} - {\color{red}{\left(2\right)}}$$$
Factor $$$\frac{1}{2}$$$:
$$$-3 + {\color{red}{\left(\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 2 x + 2\right)}}=-3 + {\color{red}{\left(\frac{x^{2} + 4 x + 4}{2}\right)}}$$$
Complete the square:
$$$-3 + \frac{{\color{red}{\left(x^{2} + 4 x + 4\right)}}}{2}=-3 + \frac{{\color{red}{\left(x + 2\right)^{2}}}}{2}$$$
Answer: $$$\frac{x^{2}}{2} + 2 x - 1=\frac{\left(x + 2\right)^{2}}{2} - 3$$$.