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Polynomial Notes

This document summarizes several key concepts in polynomial equations: 1) Synthetic division is an easy way to divide higher-degree polynomials by binomials of the form x - r. 2) Zeros of a polynomial are numbers that make the polynomial equal to 0 when substituted into the polynomial equation. 3) The remainder theorem states that if a polynomial P(x) is divided by x - r, the remainder is equal to P(r). 4) The factor theorem states that r is a zero of P(x) if and only if x - r is a factor of P(x).

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121 views

Polynomial Notes

This document summarizes several key concepts in polynomial equations: 1) Synthetic division is an easy way to divide higher-degree polynomials by binomials of the form x - r. 2) Zeros of a polynomial are numbers that make the polynomial equal to 0 when substituted into the polynomial equation. 3) The remainder theorem states that if a polynomial P(x) is divided by x - r, the remainder is equal to P(r). 4) The factor theorem states that r is a zero of P(x) if and only if x - r is a factor of P(x).

Uploaded by

schmitfamily
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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RVC MTH 120 College Algebra

Chapter 5 Notes

Synthetic Division – an easy way to divide higher-degree polynomials by binomials of


the form x – r

Zero of a polynomial P(x) – any number r for which P(r) = 0


Zeros of the polynomial P(x) are real roots of the polynomial equation P(x) = 0

Remainder Theorem – If P(x) is divided by x – r, the remainder is P(r)

Factor Theorem – If r is a zero of P(x), then x – r is a factor of P(x) or


If x – r is a factor of P(x) then r is a zero of P(x)

Fundamental Theorem of Algebra – If P(x) is a polynomial with positive degree, then


P(x) has at least one zero

Root of Multiplicity k – any number r that occurs k times as a root of a polynomial


equation

Conjugate Pairs Theorem – If a polynomial equation with real-number coefficients has


a complex root a + bi with b ≠ 0, then its conjugate a – bi is also a root

Descartes’ Rule of Signs – Given a polynomial with real coefficients, the number of
positive roots of the polynomial is either equal to the number of variations in sign of the
polynomial or less than that by an even number
The number of negative roots is either equal to the number of variations in the sign of
P(-x) or less than that by an even number

Upper Bound – Let the lead coefficient of a polynomial with real coefficients be
positive, and do a synthetic division of the coefficients by a positive number c. If each
term in the last row of the division is nonnegative, no number greater than c can be root
of the polynomial

Lower Bound - Let the lead coefficient of a polynomial with real coefficients be
positive, and do a synthetic division of the coefficients by a negative number d. If each
term in the last row of the division alternate signs, no number less than d can be root of
the polynomial. If 0 appears in the last row, that 0 can be assigned either a + or a – sign to help signs
alternate

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