Factor Theorem

The factor theorem is a theorem linking factors and zeros of a polynomial. It is commonly
applied to factorizing and finding the roots of polynomial equations. The theorem states
that isa factor of a polynomial f(x)if ;that is, r is a root of f(x). Factor theorem
problems are typically solved by applying synthetic division and then checking for a zero
remainder. The remainder theorem is often used with the factor theorem. It states that if a
polynomial f(x) is divided by a linear divisor , the remainder is f(r). If , then
the remainder is 0 and , showing that is a factor of f(x).

The point of the Factor Theorem is the reverse of the Remainder Theorem: If you synthetic-
divide a polynomial by x = a and get a zero remainder, then, not only is x = a a zero of the
polynomial (courtesy of the Remainder Theorem), but x a is also a factor of the polynomial
(courtesy of the Factor Theorem).

Example 1:
Use the Factor Theorem to determine whether x 1 is a factor of
f (x) = 2x4 + 3x2 5x + 7.
For x 1 to be a factor of f (x) = 2x4 + 3x2 5x + 7, the Factor Theorem says that x = 1 must be a
zero of f (x). To test whether x 1 is a factor, I will first set x 1 equal to zero and solve to find
the proposed zero, x = 1. Then I will use synthetic division to divide f (x) by x = 1. Since there is
no cubed term, I will be careful to remember to insert a "0" into the first line of the synthetic
division to represent the omitted power of x in 2x4 + 3x2 5x + 7:

Since the remainder is not zero, then the Factor Theorem says that:
x 1 is not a factor of f (x).
Example 2:
Using the Factor Theorem, verify that x + 4 is a factor of
f (x) = 5x4 + 16x3 15x2 + 8x + 16.
If x + 4 is a factor, then (setting this factor equal to zero and solving) x = 4 is a root. To do the
required verification, I need to check that, when I use synthetic division on f (x), with x = 4, I
get a zero remainder:

The remainder is zero, so the Factor Theorem says that:

x + 4 is a factor of 5x4 + 16x3 15x2 + 8x + 16.
Factor Theorem in Real Life!
An incoming mortar shell is following the curve y = x^2 - 6x - 16. At the x value where y=0 it
hits the ground and we want to know x, so we can tell the people there to take cover.
x2 - 6x - 16 = 0
x2 - 6x - 16 = (x+2)(x-8) = 0
From the factors x+2 and x-8 we get the roots -2 and 8. Only 8 makes sense in this story