Department of Education

Mathematics 10
POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS
First Quarter – Week 8

DR. FELISA G. BASIJAN

Writer

CRISTINE CAROLINE C. GRATIS, CHARISMA JOY S. LULU,

BENELIN G. RUMBAOAValidators, EMALYN M. BALLONADO

DR. EMELITA D. BAUTISTA, ENGR. ROLANDO S. MULDONG,

JOSEPH D. NILO, KRYSTELLE R. DUMLAO Quality
Assurance Team members

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
 (02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940

You have learned how to solve quadratic equations using the Zero-Product
Property. In this lesson, you will apply the same property to solve equations
involving polynomials in factored form. You will also learn how to factor
polynomials and solve general polynomial euations.
As you go through this module, you are expected to:
1. Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to determine the maximum
number of real roots of a polynomial.
2. Solve polynomial equations in factored form.
3. Solve problems that can be modelled by polynomial equations.

Directions: Write the letter that best answer each question. Please take note of the
items/questions that you will not be able to answer correctly and revisit them as
you go through this module for self-assessment.

1. Given P(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 -5x -12, what is the value of P(3)?
A. 56 B. 55 C. 54 D. 53
2. Which of the following is NOT a root of x(x+3) (x+3) (x-1)(2x+1) = 0.
A.0 B. -3 C. 1 D. 1 / 2
3. Find a cubic polynomial equation with roots -2, 2, and 4. A. x 3 + 4x2- 4x +
3 2
16 = 0 C. 10 x -x - x + 16 = 0
3 2
b. x - 4x - x + 16 = 0 D. x3 - 4x2- 4x + 16 = 0

4. How many positive real roots does x4-x3-11x2+9x-18 = 0 have?

A.0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3

5. In the polynomial equation x3 + 2x2 – x -2 = 0, one of the roots is

A.-1 B. 0 C. 3 D. 2
2
6. In (x+1) (x-5) = 0, the number of real roots is
A.1 B. 2 C.3 D. 4
7. If P(x) is a polynomial equation of degree n and with real coefficients, then it
has at most n real roots.
A. True B. False C. Maybe D. Sometimes

8. In x3 + 6x2 + 11x – 6=0, the roots are

A.0, 1, 2 B. 1, 2, 3 C. -1, -2, -3 D. 3, 4, 5

9. Determine the number of real roots of (x-4) (x+3)2 (x-1)3 = 0.

A.6 B. 5 C. 3 D. 2

10.One of the roots of x3 – 6x2 + 11x -6 = 0 is

A.0 B. -1 C. 1 D. 6
2
 11.Which of the following is not a root of x(x+3)(x+3)(x-1)(2x+1)=0?
i. 0 ii. -3 iii. -1 iv. ½
A. i only B. ii only C. I and ii only D. iii and iv only
th
12.Geddy will evaluate an 8 degree polynomial in x using synthetic division.
How many coefficients of x will be written in the first row of the synthetic
division?
A.8 B. 9 C. 10 D. 11

13.If (7x4-5x5 -7x3+2x-3) is divided by (x+3) using synthetic division, the

numbers in the first row would be
A. -5 7 -7 0 2 -3 C. 1 -5 -7 0 2 -3 B.
-7 1 -5 0 2 -3 D. -3 1 -7 0 2 -5
14.What is the factored form of P(x) = x4 + x3 +x2 + x?
A. x(x+1) (x2 + 1) C. x(x-1) (x2+1)
2
B. x (x + 1) D. (x)(-1)(x 2 + 1)
15.The perimeter of a rectangle is 54m. The length of the rectangle is 9m more
than twice the width. What are the dimensions of the rectangle? A. 6m by
21m C. 6m by 20m
B. 6m by 12m D. 6m by 9m

Revisiting Roots of equations

Determine the real root(s) of each equation.

1. x-2 =0 ; x =2 , why?

2. x(x-4) = 0 ; x = 0. x =4 , why?

3. (x+1)(x-3) = 0 ; x = -1, x = 3, why?

Try the remaining items!

4. x2 + x -2 =0

5. x2(x-9)(2x+1) =0

Did you find this activity easy? What is highest degree of the polynomial
expressions in the given activity? Have you encountered equations involving
polynomials with a higher degree?

A rational integral equation of degree n in the variable x is an equation in the

form

3
 anxn + an-1xn-1 + . . . + a1x + a0 = 0 , where an ≠ 0

Where n is a positive integer and a 0 , a1 , . . . , a n are constants. This expression is

better known as the polynomial equation.
A value of x which satisfies the equation P(x)=0 is called a root or solution or zero
of the polynomials.

Finding the number of roots of polynomial equations

Number of Roots Theorem:

If P(x) is a polynomial equation of degree n and with real coefficients, then it
has at most n real roots.

Complete the table below:

Polynomial Degree Number of real roots

1.(x+1)2 (x-5) = 0 3 3

2. x-8 = 0 1 1

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

4.x20 – 1 = 0

5.x3 – 2x2 -4x + 8 = o

Were you able to find the number of roots of polynomial equations by inspection?

FINDING ROOTS OF POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS BY APPLYING THE

ZEROPRODUCT PROPERTY

Examples: Find the roots of the given polynomial equation.

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

Using the zero-product property

x+3 = 0 , x-2 = 0 , x+1 = 0

x = -3 , x=2 , x=-
1 Thus, the roots are -3 , -1
and 2

2. (x+4)2 (x-3) = 0
Using the zero-product property

(x+4)2 = 0 , x-3 = 0

(X+4)(x+4) = 0 , x-3 = 0

X+4 = 0 , x+4 = 0 , x -3= 0

X = -4 , x=-4 , x= 3
4
 Thus, the roots are -4 of multiplicity 2 and 3

Note: if a root occurs n times, it is called a root of multiplicity n.

FINDING ROOTS OF POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS BY APPLYING THE FACTOR

THEOREM

The constant term of a polynomial equation has a great bearing for the
solvability of the roots of equations.

Examples:
1. Solve for the roots of x3 + 2x2 – x – 2 = 0
We need to examine the possible roots based on the factors of the
constant term:
±1 or ± 2

1 2 -1 -2 1
1 3 2
1 3 2 0 -2

-2 -2

1 1 0 -1
-1

1 0

Thus, we have the factors of the polynomial as follows:

x3 + 2x2 – x – 2 = (x-1) (x+2) (x+1)
=0

Based on the derived factors, and applying the zero -product property,
x-1 =0 , x+2 = 0 , x+1 = 0

x=1 , x = -2 , x = -1
The roots are: 1 , -2, and -1

2. Solve for the roots x3 -6x2 +11x – 6 = 0

We need to examine the possible roots based on the factors of the

constant term:

±1 , ± 2, ±3, ±6

1 -6 11 -6 2

2 -8 6

1 -4 3 0 3
5
 3 -3

1 -1 0 1

1
1 0

Thus, we have the factors of the polynomial as follows:

x3 -6x2 +11x – 6 = (x-2) (x-3) (x-1) =0

Based on the derived factors, and applying the zero -product property,

x-2 =0 , x-3 = 0 , x-1 = 0

x=2 , x=3 , x=1

The roots are: 1, 2, and 3

CREATING POLYNOMIAL EQUATIONS:

Given the roots of a polynomial equation, how will you going to create the
polynomial equation?
Examples:
1. Construct the cubic equation whose roots are given as 4, -5, and -1
From the factor theorem, if 4, -5 and -1 are roots of P(x) = 0, then

x=4, x= -5, x= -1

x-4 = 0 , x+5 = 0 , x+1 = 0

(x-4)(x+5)(x+1) = 0 or

x3 + 2x2 – 19x – 20 = 0
2. Give a polynomial equation with integer coefficients that has -1, 3 , and -6
as roots.
x= -1 , x= 3 , x= -6

x+1 = 0 , x-3 = 0 , x+6 = 0

(x+1) (x-3)(x+7) = 0 or

X3 + 4x2 – 15x -18= 0

Let’s try this!

3. When 3 is multiplied by 5 less than a number, the result is 9 less than 5

times the number. Find the number.
Solution:
Let x = the number
3(x-5) = 3 is multiplied by 5 less than a number
5x – 9 = 9 less than 5 times the number

The equation is:

3(x-5) = 5x-9

6
 3x – 15 = 5x – 9

3x – 5x = -9 + 15

-2x = 6

Solving for x:
x = -3
Therefore, the number is -3

A. Find all real roots of the following equations. Next, write each polynomial on
the left side of the equation in factored form.

1. x3 – 10x2 + 32x -32 = 0

2. x3 – 6x2 + 11x – 6 = 0
3. x3 -2x2 + 4x – 8 = 0
4. 3x3 – 19x2 + 33x – 9 =0
5. x4 -5x2 + 4 = 0
B. For each item below, give a polynomial equation with integer coefficients that
has the following roots.
1. 2, -7
2. 0, -4, -5 1
3. 2, 3,
4. 1, 2, 3
5. -1, 4, 0

A Polynomial Equation is a rational integral equation of degree n in the

variable x of the form anxn + an-1xn-1 + . . + a1x + a0 = 0 , where an ≠ 0 , where n is a
non-negative integer and a0 , a1 , . . . , an are real numbers.
A value of x which satisfies the equation P(x) = 0 is called a rootor solution or
zero of the polynomial equation
If P(x) is a polynomial equation of degree n and with real coefficients, then it has
at most real roots.

A. By inspection, determine the number of real roots of each polynomial equation.

7
 Roots of multiplicity n are counted n times.
1. (x-4)(x+3)2 (x-1)3 = 0
2. x2 (x3 – 1) = 0
3. x(x+3) (x-6)2 = 0
4. 3x (x3 – 1)2 = 0
5. (x3 – 8) (x4 + 1) = 0
B. Solve the following problems.
1.The sum of two numbers is 36. If the larger number is divided by the
smaller number, the quotient is 2 and the remainder is 3. Find the
numbers.

3. Find the numbers if one is 5 more than another and their sum is 71.
4.
3.A father is now three times as old as his son. Twelve years ago, he was six
times as old as his son. Find the present age of each.

4. A piece of wire 35/3 in long is to be divided into two parts such that one
part is 2/3 that of the other. Find the length of the shorter piece.

5. Pat is 6 years older than his friend Gary. Four years ago, Gary’s age was 7
more than half of Pat’s age. What are their present ages?

Read each item carefully. Write down the letter that corresponds to the correct
answer.
1. If P(-2) =0, which of the following statements is true about P(x)?
A.x+2 is a factor of P(x) C. P(x) = 0, has two negative roots
B. 2 is a root of P(x) = 0 D. P(0) = -2
2. One of the roots of the polynomial equation 2x3 + 9x2-33x+14=0 is 2.
Find the other roots.
A. ½ and 7 B. -1/2 and 7 C. ½ and -7 D. -1/2 and -7
4 3 2
3. How many positive real roots does x – x – 11x + 9x + 18 = 0 have?
A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3
4. Which of the following cubic polynomial equations has roots -2, 2, and
1?
A. x 3 + x2 – 4x + 4 = 0 C. x 3 – x2 – 4x + 4= 0
B. x3 - 4x2 – x + 4 = 0 D. x 3 - 4x2 – 4x + 4 = 0 5.
Given P(x) = 3x3 + 2x2 –x. what is the value of P(-1)?
A. 0 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
6. Which of the following polynomials is exactly divisible by (3x+1)?
A. 6x2 + 17x + 5 C. 5x2 - 17x + 5
B. 6x2 - 17x + 5 D. 5x2 - 17x + 5
7. If P(-2)=0, which of the following statements is true about P(x)?
A. x+2 is a factor of P(x) C. P(x) = 0, has two negative roots
B. 2 is a root of P(x)= 2 D. P(0) = -2
8. How many positive real roots does x4 – x3 – 11x2 + 8x + 14=0 have?
A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3
3
9. Find k so that (x-2) is a factor of x + kx – 4.
8
 A. -3 B. -2 C. -1 D. 0
3
10. What are the factors of 8x + 1?
A. (2x+1) (4x2 – 2x + 1) C. (2x-1) (4x2 – 2x + 1)
B. (2x+1) (4x2 + 2x + 1) D. (2x-1) (4x2 + 2x + 1)
3
11. The binomial x + 2 is a factor of x – 8.
A. True B. False C. Maybe D. sometimes
12. One of the roots of -2x4 + 13x3 – 21x2 + 2x + 8 = 0 is − . Find the other
roots.
A. -4, -2 and 1 B. 4, -2 and 1 C. 4, 2 and -1 D. 4, 2 and 1
13. Give a polynomial equation with integer coefficients whose roots are -1, 3
and -6.
A. x3 + 4x2 – 15x – 18 = 0 C. x3 + 4x2 – 15x + 18 = 0
3 2
B. x - 4x – 15x – 18 = 0 D. x3 + 4x2 + 15x – 18 = 0
14. Lita is 41 years old and her daughter is 9. In how many years will the
mother be three times as old as her daughter?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8
15. The perimeter of a triangle is 17cm. the second side is twice the length of the
first side, and the third side is 1cm less than 3 times the length of the first
side. What are the lengths of the sides of the triangle?
A. 3cm, 6cm, 8cm C. 2cm, 6cm, 9cm
B. 4cm, 7cm, 8cm D. 5cm,6cm, 8cm

References:
Learner’s Module for Mathematics (Grade 10), 2015, Department of Education,Phil.
Bernabe, Julieta G., et al. (2014), Our World of Math 10,Vibal Group,Inc.,Quezon City

Concepcion, Benjamin, et.al. (2004), Algebra with Recreational

Math,Ymas Publishing,Manila
Oronce,Orlando A..et.al,(2003),Exploring Mathematics,Rex Bookstore,Inc. Manila