First subtract the constant to the other side to simplify it for now y-5=-x^2+6x Then pull out a common factor so the coefficient is x^2 y-5=-1(x^2-6x) Next you take 1/2 of the b value (-6) and square it to find your c value [1/2(-6)]^2=9 After that plug 9 into your equation as your c value y-5=-1(x^2-6x+9) Adding the C-value (9) causes the equations to become unbalanced so you need to balance them back out by minus 9 to the other side y-14=-1(x^2-6x+9) Now you want to simplify the equation on the right side. y-14=-1(x-3)^2 Finally you want to add the constant back to the right side. y=-1(x-3)^2+14 <——— vertex form