LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET IN MATHEMATICS 10

Module 11 (Polynomial Equations)

POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS

A polynomial equation is an equation that has multiple terms made up of numbers and variables. Usually, it is expressed in
the form ( ), where 𝑎 is the coefficient, 𝑥 is the variable, and 𝑛 is the exponent. The value of the exponent should always be
a positive integer. If we expand the polynomial equation we will get the general expression, ( 𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛𝑥𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1𝑥𝑛−1 + 𝑎𝑛−2𝑥𝑛−2
+ ⋯ + 𝑎1𝑥 + 𝑎0

Examples of Polynomial Equation

1. 3𝑥 + 4 = 0 2. 2𝑥2 + 3𝑥 + 1 = 0 3. 𝑥3 + 4𝑥2 + 2𝑥 + 6 = 0

In the example number 3, 𝑥3 + 4𝑥2 + 2𝑥 + 6 = 0, the degree is 3, the leading coefficient is 1, and the constant is 6.
To understand these terms let’s define them one-by-one.

 Degree of the Polynomial – is the highest among the degrees (exponents) on the equation.
 Leading Coefficient – is the number written in front of the variable with the largest exponent.
 Constant – is the term of degree 0; it is the term in which the variable does not appear.

FINDING THE ROOTS OF POLYNOMIAL EQUATION USING ZERO-PRODUCT PROPERTY and FACTOR THEOREM
The Zero Product Property says that, if for example, we have ab = 0, then either a = 0, b =0, or both a and b
are equal to 0.

So here:

1. (x+3) (x-2) (x+1) (x-1)=0 10

Either (x+3), (x-2), (x+1), or (x-1) = 0
Then for x + 3 = 0, we transpose the 3 to the other side, so x = -3.
In the same way, we solve x - 2 =0, x + 1 = 0, x - 1 = 0.
So the answer here is x = -3, 2, -1, 1.
2. (x+5) (x-5) (x+5) (x-1) =0
Similarly solving, x + 5 =0, x - 5 = 0, x+5 = 0, and x - 1 =0 x = -5, 5, -5, 1
Note that we write both -5, even if it happened two times.
3. (x+4)2 (x-3)3 = 0
So here, when there are exponents: (x+4)2 = 0, this is the same as (x+4)(x+4) = 0, right?
So we also have -4 twice.
Similarly, we also have (x-3) three times, so we have 3 three times. x = -4, -4, 3, 3, 3

Multiplicity – states that the equations having 2 or more the same roots can be written as one provided mentioning
how many times it occurs. (ex. Roots are 1,2,2,3 = 1, 3, and 2(2times)).

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).

 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) = 2x 4 + 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 2x 4 + 3x2 – 5x + 7:

1 2 0 3 -5 7
2 2 5 0
2 2 5 0 7
Since the remainder is not zero, then the Factor Theorem says that: x – 1 is not a factor of f (x).

 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:

-4 5 16 -15 8 16
-20 16 -4 -16
5 -4 1 4 0
Since the remainder is zero, so the Factor Theorem says that: x + 4 is a factor of 5x 4 + 16x3 – 15x2 + 8x + 16.

WRITING POLYNOMIAL EQUATION GIVEN THE ROOTS

The roots of an equation are the values that make it equal zero. If this is a regular polynomial, then that means there are as
many factors (at least) as there are roots. So the equation is the product of three factors if there are three roots. Each root
corresponds to one of the factors equaling zero, so you can deal with them individually. Think of each of the roots as a
separate function if you like: f(x)g(x)h(x) = 0, so f(x) = 0 or g(x) = 0 or h(x) = 0. If you start with the equation x 3 - 4x2 - 7x
+ 10 = 0 you can factor it and get (x - 1)(x + 2)(x - 5) = 0 and thus the roots are x = 1, x = -2 and x = 5. To solve your
problems you apply this process backwards.

Example: Find a polynomial with roots 1, -2 and 5. Start with the roots x = 1, x = -2 and x = 5 and construct the
polynomial (x - 1)(x + 2)(x - 5) = 0. You can then expand this expression if you wish and get x 3 - 4x2 - 7x + 10 = 0

At this point, you already know some important ideas about polynomial equations. Now, using what you have learned earlier
about polynomial equation, complete the table below. The rational roots are already given, answer only what is missing.

Polynomial Degree Leading Constant Roots

Equation Coefficient Term
11x-6=0
x3-x2-10x-8=0
x3+2x2-23x-60=0
4x2+3x+2-0
16x3+21x2+4x -12 =0

A. Name each polynomial by its degree and number of terms.

1. 3𝑥2 + 2𝑥 + 8 = 0 2. 17𝑎2 + 2𝑎 − 7 = 0
Degree: ____________________ Degree: ____________________
Term: _____________________ Term: _____________________
3. 10𝑎 + 12 = 0 4. −16𝑥2 + 8𝑥 + 52 = 0
Degree: ____________________ Degree: ____________________
Term: _____________________ Term: _____________________
5. −5x − 6 = 0
Degree: ____________________
Term: ______________________

B. For each item below, give or create a polynomial equation with integer coefficients that has the
following roots.

1.) -1,2,-6 2.) 2, -7 3.) 0,-4,-5,1

4.) -2,3,5 5.) -2, 3,2,-3

C. Find the roots of the following polynomial equation using Zero-Product Property.

1. (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) = 0

2. (𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
3. (𝑥 + 4)2(𝑥 − 3)3 = 0
4. (𝑥 − 3)4(𝑥 + 6)2 = 0
5. 𝑥2(𝑥 − 9) = 0

D. Identify the roots of each equation. State the multiplicity of each root if there is.

1. −𝑥4 + 2𝑥3 + 8𝑥2 − 48 = 0 ______________________________________

2. 𝑥3 + 3𝑥2 + 3𝑥 + 1 = 0 ______________________________________
3. 𝑥3 + 5𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 48 = 0 ______________________________________
4. 𝑥3 + 10𝑥2 + 17𝑥 = 28 ______________________________________
5. 3𝑥3 + 10𝑥2 − 27 = 10 ______________________________________