4A Lesson Worksheet 6.3A (Refer to Boo 4A P.6.

23)

Objective: To use the Factor Theorem to factorize polynomials (with integral coefficients).

Review: Dividing a Polynomial by a Polynomial

Complete the following calculations. [Nos. 1–2]

1. 2x 2 + 2.
x + 1 ) 2x 3 + 3x 2 + 2x + 1 x – 2 ) 3x3 – 4x2 – 2x + 3
2x 3 + 2x 2
x2 +

Factor Theorem
(a) If f(x) is a polynomial and f(a) = 0, then x – a is a factor of f(x).
Conversely, if x – a is a factor of the polynomial f(x), then f(a) = 0. If x – a = 0, then x = a.
 n  n
(b) If f(x) is a polynomial and f   = 0, then mx – n is a factor of f(x). If mx – n = 0, then x =
m
.
 m
 n 
Conversely, if mx – n is a factor of the polynomial f(x), then f   = 0.
 m

Instant Example 1 Instant Practice 1

Let f(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 – 5. Use the Factor Theorem to Let f(x) = 3x3 + x2 – x + 1. Use the Factor Theorem
determine whether x – 1 is a factor of f(x). to determine whether x + 1 is a factor of f(x).
f(1) = 2(1)3 + 3(1)2 – 5  Check whether f(1) = 0. f( ) = 3( )3 + ( )2 – ( )+1
=0 =( )
x – 1 is a factor of f(x).

In each of the following, determine whether the expression in brackets is a factor of the polynomial f(x).
[Nos. 3–8] Ex 6C: 1–7

3. f(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 3x + 6 [x – 2] 4. f(x) = x3 – 4x2 + x + 2 [x – 3]

3 2
f( )=( ) – 2( ) – 3( )+6 f( )=
=( ) =

x – 3 ( is / is not ) a factor of f(x).

5. f(x) = x3 + 5x2 – x + 1 [x + 2] 6. f(x) = 2x3 + 7x2 + 2x – 3 [x + 3]

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7. f(x) = 12x3 – x2 + 2x – 1 [3x – 1] 8. f(x) = 6x3 + x2 – 4x + 6 [2x + 3]
3x – 1 = 0

x = ___

9. Let f(x) = x3 + 4x2 + x – 6. 10. Let f(x) = x3 + 3x2 – 4.

(a) Show that x + 2 is a factor of f(x). (a) Show that x – 1 is a factor of f(x).
(b) Factorize f(x). (b) Factorize f(x). Ex 6C: 8–11

(a) f( )= (a)

(b) Using long division, (b)

)
Insert a term with
zero coefficient for
the missing term in
the dividend.

f(x) = ( )( )
=( )( )( )

Level Up Question

11. It is given that x – 2 is a factor of f(x) = 2x3 – x2 – 8x + k.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Factorize f(x).

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4A Lesson Worksheet 6.3B (Refer to Book 4A P.6.27)

Objective: To use the Factor Theorem to factorize polynomials with integral coefficients (without known
factors).

Factorization of Polynomials with Integral Coefficients

Factorize f(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, where a, b, c and d are integers.
Step 1: Use all the factors of a and d to list all the possible linear factors of f(x).
Step 2: Use the Factor Theorem to find one of the factors mx + n of f(x).
Step 3: Use long division to find the quotient Q(x) of f(x) ÷ (mx + n). Hence, f(x) = (mx + n)Q(x).
Step 4: Further factorize f(x) if possible.

List all the possible linear factors of each of the following polynomials. [Nos. 1–2]
1. x 3 – 3x + 2 2. 2x3 + x2 – 4x – 3

3. Find one of the factors of 4. Find one of the factors of

f(x) = x3 + 5x2 + 3x – 9. f(x) = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6.
The possible linear factors of f(x) are The possible linear factors of f(x) are
. .
f( ) = __________________ = ____
( ) is a factor of f(x).

Instant Example 1 Instant Practice 1

Factorize f(x) = x3 + 5x2 + 7x + 3. Factorize f(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 7x + 4.
The possible linear factors of f(x) are The possible linear factors of f(x) are
 Step 1  Step 1
x ± 1 and x ± 3. .

f(–1) = (–1)3 + 5(–1)2 + 7(–1) + 3  Step 2 f( ) = ___________________________  Step 2

=0 =0
x + 1 is a factor of f(x). _________ is a factor of f(x).
Using long division,  Step 3 Using long division,  Step 3

x 2 + 4x + 3
x + 1 ) x 3 + 5x 2 + 7x + 3 )
x3 + x2
4x 2 + 7x
4x 2 + 4x
3x + 3
3x + 3

f(x) = (x + 1)(x2 + 4x + 3) f(x) = ( )( )

= (x + 1)(x + 1)(x + 3)  Step 4 =  Step 4

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

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Factorize the following polynomials. [Nos. 5–8]
5. f(x) = x3 – 3x2 – 9x – 5 6. f(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 4x – 8 Ex 6C: 16–23
f( )=
_________ is a factor of f(x). The possible linear The possible linear
factors of f(x) are factors of f(x) are
Using long division,

. .

7. f(x) = x3 + 6x2 + 3x – 10 8. f(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 9x – 18

The possible linear The possible linear

factors of f(x) are factors of f(x) are

. .

Level Up Question

9. When f(x) = 2x3 + kx2 – 3x – 2 is divided by x + 1, the remainder is 2.
(a) Find f(x). (b) Factorize f(x).

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New Century Mathematics (Second Edition) 4A

6 More about Polynomials

Consolidation Exercise 6C

Level 1
1. Let f (x) = x3 − x + 6.
(a) Find the value of f (−2).
(b) Determine whether x + 2 is a factor of f (x).

2. Let f (x) = x3 − 4x2 + 2x + 1.

(a) Find the value of f (3).
(b) Determine whether x − 3 is a factor of f (x).

3. Let g (x) = x3 + 6x2 − 5.

(a) Find the value of g (−1). (b) Is x + 1 a factor of g (x)?

4. Let g (x) = 3x3 + 2x2 − 5x + 8.

(a) Find the value of g (−2). (b) Is g (x) divisible by x + 2?

5. In each of the following, determine whether the expression in brackets is a factor of the polynomial
f (x).
(a) f (x) = x3 – 3x2 + 2x – 6 [x – 3]
(b) f (x) = 2x3 – x2 + x – 2 [x + 1]
3
(c) f (x) = x – 4x + 5 [x + 2]

6. Let f (x) = 2x3 − 3x2 − 11x + 6. Determine whether each of the following is a factor of f (x).
(a) x − 2 (b) x + 2

7. Let g (x) = 6x3 + 13x2 + 4x − 3. Determine whether each of the following is a factor of g (x).
(a) 3x − 1 (b) 2x − 3

8. Let f (x) = x3 – 4x + 3.
(a) Find the value of f (1).
(b) Factorize f (x).

9. Let f (x) = x3 + 2x2 – 5x − 6.

(a) Find the values of f (−1), f (2) and f (−3).
(b) Hence, factorize f (x).

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10. Let f (x) = x3 + x2 – 10x + 8.
(a) Show that f (2) = 0.
(b) Factorize f (x).

11. Let f (x) = 2x3 − 15x2 + 22x + 15.

(a) Show that x − 5 is a factor of f (x).
(b) Factorize f (x).

12. Let f (x) = 3x3 + 13x2 + 8x − 12.

(a) Is x + 3 is a factor of f (x)?
(b) Factorize f (x).

13. If x − 4 is a factor of x2 − 7x − 6a, find the value of a.

14. If x + 2 is a factor of x3 + 4x2 − px − 6, find the value of p.

15. If 2x3 – kx2 − 23x + 12 is divisible by x + 3, find the value of k.

16. If 2x3 − mx2 – 2x + m is divisible by 2x − 1, find the value of m.

Factorize the following polynomials. [Nos. 17–24]

17. x3 + 3x2 – 9x + 5 18. x3 + 3x2 − 6x − 8

19. x3 + 6x2 + 3x – 10 20. x3 + 5x2 – 8x – 12

21. x3 − 6x2 − x + 30 22. x3 − 13x + 12

23. x3 + 3x2 − 10x − 24 24. x3 + 11x2 + 32x + 28

25. It is given that x − 2 is a factor of f (x) = x3 + mx2 − 3x + n, where m and n are integers. Is it possible to
have a set of values of m and n such that m + n = 6? Explain your answer.

Level 2
26. In each of the following, show that the expression in brackets is a factor of the polynomial f (x).
(a) f (x) = 4x3 − 15x2 + 17x − 6 [4x − 3]
(b) f (x) = 5x3 − 12x2 − 36x + 16 [5x − 2]
3 2
(c) f (x) = x + (k + 3)x + kx − 6k [x + 3]
(d) f (x) = x3 + (k + 1)x2 − k2 [ x + k]
3 2
(e) f (x) = 3x − (1 + 6k)x + (2k − 2)x + 4k [x − 2k]

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27. Let g(x) = 4x3 − 12x2 + 5x + 6.
(a) Determine whether each of the following is a factor of g(x).
(i) x + 2
(ii) 2x + 1
(b) Factorize g(x).

28. Let p(x) = 6x3 − x2 − 11x + 6.

(a) Determine whether each of the following is a factor of p(x).
(i) x − 1
(ii) 3x + 2
(b) Factorize p(x).

29. If x2 − 3x + k − 5 is divisible by x + k, find the value(s) of k.

30. If x3 − (k − 2)x2 + 3x − 2 is divisible by x − k, find the value(s) of k.

31. If 3x − a is a factor of 3x2 + (a + 1)x − 12, where a is an integer, find the value of a.

32. If x + p is a factor of 2x3 + (2p + 1)x2 − x − 6, where p is an integer, find the value(s) of p.

33. It is given that f (x) = 2x3 − 5x2 + kx + 18 and x + 2 is a factor of f (x).

(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Find the remainder when f (x) is divided by 2x + 1.

34. Let f (x) = 6x3 + mx2 − 4x + 4. It is given that f (x) is divisible by 2x − 1.

(a) Find the value of m.
(b) Find the remainder when f (x) is divided by 3x − 1.

35. It is given that x − 4 is a factor of f (x) = x3 − kx2 − 5x + 4.

(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Factorize f (x).

36. It is given that 2x + 5 is a factor of f (x) = 2x3 + mx2 − 2x − m.

(a) Find the value of m.
(b) Factorize f (x).

37. Let f (x) = x3 + 4x2 + x − 6k.

(a) If f (x) is divisible by x + 3, find the value of k.
(b) If f (x − k) is divisible by x + k, find the value(s) of k.

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38. Let f (x) = 2x3 − kx2 − 9x + 18.
(a) If f (x) is divisible by 2x − 3, find the value of k.
(b) If f (x + 4) is divisible by x + 3, find the value of k.

39. It is given that x − 2 and x + 3 are factors of f (x) = x3 + 3x2 + ax − b.

(a) Find the values of a and b.
(b) Find the remaining factor of f (x).

40. It is given that 2x2 + x − 1 is a factor of f (x) = px3 − 5x2 − 4x + q.

(a) Find the values of p and q.
(b) Find the remaining factor of f (x).

41. It is given that f (x) = x3 + ax2 − x + b is divisible by x + 2. When f (x) is divided by x + 1, the
remainder is −3. Find the values of a and b.

42. It is given that x − 3 is a factor of f (x) = 2x3 − 5x2 − 2px + 3q. When f (x) is divided by x − 2, the
remainder is 3. Find the values of p and q.

43. It is given that x − 2 is a common factor of f (x) = x2 − ax + b and g(x) = x2 + (2b − 1)x + 6a.
(a) Find the values of a and b.
(b) Factorize f (x) and g(x).

44. It is given that f (x) = 2x2 − ax + b is divisible by 2x + 1. When g(x) = x2 + bx − 2a is divided by x + 1,

the remainder is −6.
(a) Find the values of a and b.
(b) Factorize f (x) and g(x).

45. It is given that x − 2 is a factor of f (x) = 2x3 + mx2 − 8x + n. When f (x) is divided by x + 1, the
remainder is 15.
(a) Find the values of m and n.
(b) Factorize f (x).

46. When a polynomial f (x) is divided by x + 2, the quotient is 2x2 − 7x − 3. It is given that f (−2) = −6.
(a) Find f (x).
(b) Find the value of f (−1).
(c) Factorize f (x).

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47. When a polynomial f (x) is divided by x − 3, the quotient is 2x2 + 7x + 6. It is given that f (3) = 20. Let
g(x) = f (x) − 20.
(a) Show that x − 3 is a factor of g(x).
(b) Factorize g(x).

48. When a polynomial f (x) is divided by 2x + 1, the quotient is x2 + 2x − 3. It is given that f (2) = 25. Let
p(x) = f (x) − (10x + 5).
(a) Is x − 2 a factor of p(x)? Explain your answer.
(b) Factorize p(x).

Factorize the following polynomials. [Nos. 49–56]

49. x3 − 5x2 − 2x + 24 50. x3 − 10x2 + 31x − 30

51. 2x3 + x2 − 13x + 6 52. 3x3 + 17x2 + 18x − 8

53. 4x3 − 12x2 − 19x + 12 54. 4x3 + 20x2 + 13x − 12

55. 12x3 + 27x2 − 3x − 18 56. 4x4 − 8x3 − 17x2 + 30x

57. It is given that f (x) = px3 − 4x2 − 11x + 6 is divisible by 2x + 3.

(a) Find the value of p.
(b) Solve the equation f (x) = 0.

58. Let f (x) = 2x3 − ax2 − 7x + 2b and g (x) = 2ax3 − 5x2 − 3bx + 18. It is given that f (x) and g (x) are
divisible by 2x − 3.
(a) Find the values of a and b.
(b) Find the values of x such that f (x) = g (x).

59. It is given that f (x) = 6x3 + (4 − 3k)x2 − 8x + k, where k ≠ 0. f (x) is divisible by 2x − k.

(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Are all the roots of the equation f (x) = 0 real numbers? Explain your answer.

60. (a) Find the value of k such that x − 2 is a factor of kx3 − 9x2 + 13x − 6.
(b) The figure shows the graph of y = 6x2 − 27x + 39. P is a variable
y
point on the graph in the first quadrant. Q and R are the feet of
y = 6x2 − 27x + 39
the perpendiculars from P to the x-axis and the y-axis
respectively.
(i) Let (a , 0) be the coordinates of Q. Express the area of the
rectangle OQPR in terms of a. R P
(ii) Are there three different positions of P such that the area of x
O Q
the rectangle OQPR is 18? Explain your answer.
85