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Problem

Let 2x^3 - x^2 + 4x - 5 = A(x - 2)^3 + B(x - 2)^2 + C(x - 2) + D, where A, B, C, and D are real coefficients. The values of the coefficients can be determined by either expanding each term and comparing coefficients, which results in A = 2, B = 11, C = 24, D = 15, or by using synthetic division, which also gives A = 2, B = 11, C = 24, D = 15.

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55 views

Problem

Let 2x^3 - x^2 + 4x - 5 = A(x - 2)^3 + B(x - 2)^2 + C(x - 2) + D, where A, B, C, and D are real coefficients. The values of the coefficients can be determined by either expanding each term and comparing coefficients, which results in A = 2, B = 11, C = 24, D = 15, or by using synthetic division, which also gives A = 2, B = 11, C = 24, D = 15.

Uploaded by

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

Let 2 x 3 − x 2 + 4 x − 5 = A( x − 2)3 + B (x − 2 )2 + C ( x − 2 ) + D , where A, B, C and D are real


coefficients. Determine the values of A, B, C and D.
from 21st Century Mathematics IV

Solution:
One way of solving this problem is by expanding each binomial and comparing
coefficients.

3 2
2 x 3 − x 2 + 4 x − 5 = A (x − 2 ) + B ( x − 2 ) + C ( x − 2 ) + D
( ) ( )
= A x 3 − 16 x 2 + 12 x − 8 + B x 2 − 4 x + 4 + C (x − 2 ) + D

Compare coefficients.
a) for x 3 c) for x
A=2 12 A − 4 B + C = 4
12(2 ) − 4(11) + C = 4
b) for x 2 24 − 44 + C = 4
− 6 A + B = −1 C = 24
− 6(2) + B = −1
− 12 + B = −1 d) for k
− 8 A + 4 B − 2C + D = −5
B = 11
− 8(2) + 4(11) − 2(24) + D = −5
− 16 + 44 − 48 + D = 5
D = 15

An easier alternative to solving this problem would be by synthetic division. Notice that
if you divide the polynomial by (x − 2) . It will give of a remainder equal to D. If we then divide
the quotient again by (x − 2) , C will be the remainder. To illustrate:

D
[A(x − 2) 3 2
] 2
+ B( x − 2) + C (x − 2 ) + D ÷ (x − 2 ) = A( x − 2) + B (x − 2 ) + C +
x−2
C
[A(x − 2) 2
]
+ B (x − 2 ) + C ÷ ( x − 2) = A( x − 2 ) + B +
x−2
B
[A(x − 2) + B ] ÷ (x − 2) = A +
x−2

If we use synthetic division,

2 -1 4 -5 |2
4 6 20
2 3 10 15

D = 15

2 3 10 |2
4 14
2 7 24

C = 24

2 7 |2
4
2 11

B = 11
A=2

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