Solve a^2-4a+4=1

$${ a }^{ 2 } -4a+4=1$$

Solve for a

$$a=1$$

$$a=3$$

Steps Using Factoring

Subtract 1 from both sides.

$$a^{2}-4a+4-1=0$$

Subtract 1 from 4 to get 3.

$$a^{2}-4a+3=0$$

To solve the equation, factor a^{2}-4a+3 using formula a^{2}+\left(a+b\right)a+ab=\left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-4 ab=3$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$a=-3 b=-1$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(a-3\right)\left(a-1\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a-3=0 and a-1=0.

$$a=3 a=1$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Subtract 1 from both sides.

$$a^{2}-4a+4-1=0$$

Subtract 1 from 4 to get 3.

$$a^{2}-4a+3=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as a^{2}+aa+ba+3. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-4 ab=1\times 3=3$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$a=-3 b=-1$$

Rewrite a^{2}-4a+3 as \left(a^{2}-3a\right)+\left(-a+3\right).

$$\left(a^{2}-3a\right)+\left(-a+3\right)$$

Factor out a in the first and -1 in the second group.

$$a\left(a-3\right)-\left(a-3\right)$$

Factor out common term a-3 by using distributive property.

$$\left(a-3\right)\left(a-1\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a-3=0 and a-1=0.

$$a=3 a=1$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. The quadratic formula gives two solutions, one when ± is addition and one when it is subtraction.

$$a^{2}-4a+4=1$$

Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation.

$$a^{2}-4a+4-1=1-1$$

Subtracting 1 from itself leaves 0.

$$a^{2}-4a+4-1=0$$

Subtract 1 from 4.

$$a^{2}-4a+3=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -4 for b, and 3 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\times 3}}{2}$$

Square -4.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\times 3}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 3.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-12}}{2}$$

Add 16 to -12.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{4}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 4.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±2}{2}$$

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$a=\frac{4±2}{2}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{4±2}{2} when ± is plus. Add 4 to 2.

$$a=\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide 6 by 2.

$$a=3$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{4±2}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 2 from 4.

$$a=\frac{2}{2}$$

Divide 2 by 2.

$$a=1$$

The equation is now solved.

$$a=3 a=1$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by completing the square. In order to complete the square, the equation must first be in the form x^{2}+bx=c.

$$a^{2}-4a+4=1$$

Factor a^{2}-4a+4. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(a-2\right)^{2}=1$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(a-2\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{1}$$

Simplify.

$$a-2=1 a-2=-1$$

Add 2 to both sides of the equation.

$$a=3 a=1$$