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The Remainder and Factor Theorems

This document discusses techniques for dividing polynomials, including long division, synthetic division, and theorems related to remainders and factors. It provides step-by-step examples of using long division and synthetic division to divide polynomials. The Remainder Theorem states that the remainder of dividing a polynomial f(x) by x-c is equal to f(c). The Factor Theorem states that if f(c)=0, then x-c is a factor of f(x), and vice versa. An example demonstrates using synthetic division and the Factor Theorem to solve a polynomial equation.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
224 views13 pages

The Remainder and Factor Theorems

This document discusses techniques for dividing polynomials, including long division, synthetic division, and theorems related to remainders and factors. It provides step-by-step examples of using long division and synthetic division to divide polynomials. The Remainder Theorem states that the remainder of dividing a polynomial f(x) by x-c is equal to f(c). The Factor Theorem states that if f(c)=0, then x-c is a factor of f(x), and vice versa. An example demonstrates using synthetic division and the Factor Theorem to solve a polynomial equation.

Uploaded by

api-285179261
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor

Theorems

Long Division of Polynomials


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Arrange the terms of both the dividend and the divisor in descending powers
of any variable.
Divide the first term in the dividend by the first term in the divisor. The result is
the first term of the quotient.
Multiply every term in the divisor by the first term in the quotient. Write the
resulting product beneath the dividend with like terms lined up.
Subtract the product from the dividend.
Bring down the next term in the original dividend and write it next to the
remainder to form a new dividend.
Use this new expression as the dividend and repeat this process until the
remainder can no longer be divided. This will occur when the degree of the
remainder (the highest exponent on a variable in the remainder) is less than the
degree of the divisor.

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Example: Long Division of Polynomials


Divide 4 5x x2 + 6x3 by 3x 2.
Solution We begin by writing the divisor and dividend in descending
powers of x. Next, we consider how many times 3x divides into 6x3.
Multiply.

3x 2

2x2
6x3 x2 5x + 4
6x3 4x2
3x2 5x

Divide: 6x3/3x = 2x2.


Multiply: 2x2(3x 2) = 6x3 4x2.
Subtract 6x3 4x2 from 6x3 x2
and bring down 5x.

Now we divide 3x2 by 3x to obtain x, multiply x and the divisor, and subtract.
Multiply.

3x 2

2x2 + x
6x3 x2 5x + 4
6x3 4x2
3x2 5x
3x2 2x
-3x + 4

Divide: 3x2/3x = x.
Multiply: x(3x 2) = 3x2 2x.
Subtract 3x2 2x from 3x2 5x
and bring down 4.
more

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Example: Long Division of Polynomials


Divide 4 5x x2 + 6x3 by 3x 2.
Solution Now we divide 3x by 3x to obtain 1, multiply 1 and the
divisor, and subtract.
Multiply.

3x 2

2x2 + x
6x3 x2 5x
6x3 4x2
3x2 5x
3x2 2x
-3x
-3x

1
+ 4

+ 4
+ 2
2

Divide: -3x/3x = -1.

Multiply: -1(3x 2) = -3x + 2.


Subtract -3x + 2 from -3x + 4,
leaving a remainder of 2.

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

The Division Algorithm


If f (x) and d(x) are polynomials, with d(x) = 0, and the degree of d(x) is less
than or equal to the degree of f (x), then there exist unique polynomials q(x)
and r(x) such that
f (x)
=
d(x)

q(x)
+
r(x).
Dividend

Divisor

Quotient

Remainder

The remainder, r(x), equals 0 or its is of degree less than the degree of d(x).
If r(x) = 0, we say that d(x) divides evenly in to f (x) and that d(x) and q(x)
are factors of f (x).

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Synthetic Division
To divide a polynomial by x c
1. Arrange polynomials in descending powers,
with a 0 coefficient for any missing terms.

Example
x 3 x33 + 4x22 5x + 5

2. Write c for the divisor, x c. To the right,


write the coefficients of the dividend.

3 1 4 -5 5

3. Write the leading coefficient of the dividend


on the bottom row.

3 1 4 -5 5

4. Multiply c (in this case, 3) times the value


just written on the bottom row. Write the
product in the next column in the 2nd row.

3 1 4 -5 5
3
Multiply by 3.
1

Bring
Bring down
down 1.
1.

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Synthetic Division
5. Add the values in this new column, writing
the sum in the bottom row.

Add.

3
1

6. Repeat this series of multiplications and


additions until all columns are filled in.

Add. 43
Multiply by 3. -1

7. Use the numbers in the last row to write the


quotient and remainder in fractional form.
The degree of the first term of the quotient is
one less than the degree of the first term of
the dividend. The final value in the row is the
remainder.

5
4
Add.3
5
Multiply by 3. 1
5
53 345
1x + 7x + 16 + x 3
5
1
3
5
2

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Example: Using Synthetic Division


Use synthetic division to divide 5x3 + 6x + 8 by x + 2.
Solution The divisor must be in the form x c. Thus, we write x + 2 as
x (-2). This means that c = -2. Writing a 0 coefficient for the missing
x2-term in the dividend, we can express the division as follows:
x (-2) 5x3 + 0x2 + 6x + 8 .

Now we are ready to set up the problem so that we can use synthetic division.
This is c in x-(-2).

Use the coefficients of the dividend


in descending powers of x.

2
5
more

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Solution We begin the synthetic division process by bringing down 5. This


is following by a series of multiplications and additions.
1. Bring down 5.

4. Multiply: -2(-10) = 20.

6. Multiply: -2(26) = -52.

2. Multiply: -2(5) = -10.

3. Add: 0 + (-10) = -10.

5. Add: 6 + 20 = 26. 5

02
6
5
8
0
2
6
5
8
5
0

0 Add.
6
7. Add: 8 + (-52) = -44.

Add.

2
5

2
5

0
6
8

Add. -

1
0

2
6
5
8
0

1
0
more

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Solution
The numbers in the last row represent the coefficients of the quotient and the
remainder. The degree of the first term of the quotient is one less than that of
the dividend. Because the degree of the dividend is 3, the degree of the
quotient is 2. This means that the 5 in the last row represents 5x2.
2

Thus,

5
44 0
5x2 10x + 26
x+2
x + 2 5x3 + 0x2 + 6x + 8
6
8

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

The Remainder Theorem


If the polynomial f (x) is divided by x c, then the remainder is f (c).

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

The Factor Theorem


Let f (x) be a polynomial.
1. If f (c ) = 0, then x c is a factor of f (x).
2. If x c is a factor of f (x), then f ( c) = 0.

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Example: Using the Factor Theorem


Solve the equation 2x3 3x2 11x + 6 = 0 given that 3 is a zero of f (x) =
2x3 3x2 11x + 6.
Solution We are given that f (3) = 0. The Factor Theorem tells us that x 3
is a factor of f (x). Well use synthetic division to divide f (x) by x 3.
2x2 + 3x 2
3 x 3 2x3 3x2 11x + 6
2

Equivalently,

- 2x3 3x2 11x + 6 = (x 3)(2x2 + 3x 2)


3
1
1
6

more

Dividing Polynomials: Remainder and Factor


Theorems

Solution
Now we can solve the polynomial equation.
2x3 3x2 11x + 6 = 0

This is the given equation.

(x 3)(2x2 + 3x 2) = 0

Factor using the result from the synthetic


division.

(x 3)(2x 1)(x + 2) = 0

Factor the trinomial.

x 3 = 0 or 2x 1 = 0 or x + 2 = 0

Set each factor equal to 0.

x=3

x=

The solution set is {-2, , 3}.

x = -2

Solve for x.

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