Factor and Remainder Theorems

Notes: Factor Theorem: (x a) is a factor of a polynomial f(x) if f(a) = 0. Remainder Theorem: The remainder when a polynomial f(x) is divided by (x a) is f(a). Extended version of the factor theorem: b (ax + b) is a factor of a polynomial f(x) if f = 0 . a Example: Show that (x 3) is a factor of x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 and find the other two factors. Sketch the graph of y = x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 , showing the points where it cuts the x and y axes. Solve the inequality x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 > 0. Solution: Let f(x) = x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 . (x 3) is a factor if f(3) = 0. f(3) = 33 2 32 5 3 + 6 = 27 18 15 + 6 = 0 . So (x 3) is a factor. To find the other factors we divide x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 by (x 3): x2 + x 2 x 3 x3 2 x 2 5x + 6 x3 3x 2 x2 5x x 2 3x 2x + 6 2x + 6 0 To find the other factors we have to factorise x 2 + x 2 = ( x 1)( x + 2) So x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 =(x 3)(x 1)(x + 2). From the graph we see that x 3 2 x 2 5 x + 6 > 0 if: x > 3 OR -2 < x < 1
y 10

-4

-3

-2

-1

-5

-10

Example 2: Find the remainder when 2 x 3 5 x 2 + 2 x + 7 is divided by (x + 2). Solution: Let f(x) = 2 x3 5 x 2 + 2 x + 7 The remainder when f(x) is divided by (x + 2) is f(-2). f(-2) = 2(2)3 + 5(2) 2 + 2(2) + 7 = 16 + 20 4 + 7 = 7 . Revision Questions: 1. Show that (x 2) is a factor of P(x), where P(x) = x 3 3 x 2 10 x + 24 , and find the other two factors. (a) Show that (x 3) is a factor of x 3 + x 2 8 x 12 and find the other two factors. (b) Sketch the graph of y = x 3 + x 2 8 x 12 . (c) Solve the inequality x 3 + x 2 8 x 12 > 0. When 2 x3 x 2 13 x + k is divided by x 2 the remainder is -20. Show that k = -6. (i) Multiply x 2 + 3 x 5 by 2 x 2 x + 4 . (ii) Find values of p, q, r, s such that (2 x + 3)( px 3 + qx 2 + rx + s ) = 2 x 4 + 13 x 3 + 7 x 2 + 18 for all values of x. (iii) Simplify ( x + 1)(3 x 2 + 2 x 5) ( x + 1)(2 x 2 + x + 1) as the product of three factors. P(x) = 2 x3 9 x 2 + x 12 . (a) Use the factor theorem to find a factor (x a) of P(x), where a is an integer. (b) Find the other two factors. (c) Sketch the graph of y = P(x), marking the coordinates of the points where it meets the xaxis and y-axis. (d) Solve P(x) > 0. g(x) = x 3 + 3x 2 13 x 15 . Show that g(-5) = 0 and g(3) = 0. Hence factorise g(x). Sketch the graph of y = g(x). Hence write down the full set of values of x for which g(x) > 0.

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6. (a) (b) (c) (d) 7.

(a) Factorise x 3 4 x 2 + x + 6 , given that (x 2) is a factor. (b) Solve the inequality x 3 4 x 2 + x + 6 > 2( x 3)( x + 1). Find the quotient and the remainder when x 3 + 2 x 2 + x 3 is divided by (x 4). [Hint: Use long division to divide x 3 + 2 x 2 + x 3 by (x 4)]. Factorise x 3 4 x 2 + x + 6 , given that (x 2) is a factor. Solve the inequality x3 4 x 2 + x + 6 > 2( x 3)( x + 1)

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