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Remainder Theorem Explained with Examples

The document discusses the remainder theorem and factor theorem. It provides examples of using long division, synthetic division, and factoring to find the remainder when a polynomial is divided by a linear factor. It also gives examples of determining if a number is a zero of a polynomial using the factor theorem, and factoring a polynomial completely when a linear term is a factor.

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Reese Peart
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60 views5 pages

Remainder Theorem Explained with Examples

The document discusses the remainder theorem and factor theorem. It provides examples of using long division, synthetic division, and factoring to find the remainder when a polynomial is divided by a linear factor. It also gives examples of determining if a number is a zero of a polynomial using the factor theorem, and factoring a polynomial completely when a linear term is a factor.

Uploaded by

Reese Peart
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

REMAINDER THEOREM If y = P(x) is a polynomial function, then a value of x that satisfies P(x) =0 is called a zero of the polynomial.

The zeros of P(x) are the same as the solutions to the equation P(x) =0. Example: 2 and -2 are zeros of the function P(x) = x2 4 because P(2) = 0 and P(-2) = 0. Also, 2 and -2 are the solutions of the equation x2 4 = 0.

Using the remainder theorem to evaluate a polynomial Example Use the remainder theorem to find P(-4) if P(x) = 2x4 10x2 + 30x 60.

Solution We can substitute for x = -4 in the expression. That is P(-4) = 2(-4)4 10(-4)2 + 30(-4) -60 = 2(256) 10(16) -120 -60 = 512-160-120-60 = 172 So the remainder is 172

We can also use long division to find the remainder.

Another approach is to use synthetic division to find the remainder. -4 2 2 0 -8 -8 -10 32 22 30 -88 -58 -60 232 172

The remainder is 172. Also 2x4 10x2 + 30x 60 = (x+4)(2x3 8x2 + 22x 58) + 172

Example Use long division to find the remainder if 2x4 9x3 + 21x2 -26x +12 is divided by 2x-3. Solution

The remainder is 0. Also 2x4 9x3 + 21x2 - 26x + 12 = (2x-3)(x3 3x2 + 6x 4)

Example Use synthetic division to find the remainder if x4 16 is divided by x-2. Solution

The remainder is 0. Also x4 16 = (x-2)(x3 + 2x2 + 4x +8)

Students Exercise Calculate (x4 3x + 5) divided by (x 4) using long division and synthetic division. (Answer x4 3x + 5 = (x 4)(x3 + 4x2 + 16x +61) + 249)

FACTOR THEOREM

A number c is a zero of the polynomial function y = P(x) if and only if x-c is a factor of the polynomial. In other words, if P( c) = 0 then ( x-c) is a factor of the polynomial and vice versa. Example: 2 and -2 are zeros of the function P(x) = x2 4. Therefore (x 2) and (x + 2) are factors of x2 4.

Example Determine whether x + 4 is a factor of the polynomial P(x) = x3 13x + 12. If it is a factor then factor P(x) completely.

Solution Step 1: By the factor theorem, x + 4 is a factor of P(x) if and only if P(-4) = 0. P(-4) = (-4)3 13(-4) + 12= -64 + 52 + 12 = 0. Since P(-4) = 0, then x + 4 is a factor.

Step 2: The other factor is the quotient from synthetic division, so P(x) = (x+4)(x2 4x + 3) -4 1 1 0 -4 -4 -13 16 3 12 -12 0

Step 3: Factoring the quadratic term, we obtain P(x) = (x + 4) (x 3) (x 1)

Students Exercise 1. Factorise x3 7x 6 2. Solve the equation -2x3 + 11x2 -17x +6=0.

Solution 1. (x + 1)(x 3)(x + 2) 2. So x = 2 or x = 0.5 or x = 3

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