LECTURE 2 OF 5

6.2 Remainder Theorem, Factor Theorem and

Zeros of Polynomial

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

a ) apply the remainder and factor theorems

to solve problems.
1
From our previous discussion, we noticed that when a polynomial
is divided by a linear factor, the remainder is a constant.

In general, if polynomial P(x) is divided by x  a and the

remainder is constant, R.

Then, P ( x )  ( x  a )Q ( x )  R ,where Q(x) = quotient

When x  a,
P (a )  (a  a )Q(a )  R

P(a)  0  Q(a)  R
P(a)  R
That is, the remainder, R  P (a ) 2
Definition

The Remainder Theorem

When a polynomial P(x) is divided by a linear

factor x – a , then
the remainder is P(a)

Note:
P(x) be a polynomial of degree n
where n ≥ 2
3
 Note :
The remainder theorem applies only if the
divisor is in the form of x  a .

If P(x) is divided by x + a = x - (-a), then R = P(-a)

 b  b
If P(x) is divided by ax  b  a  x   , then R  P 
 a a

 b
If P(x) is divided by ax  b , then R  P  
 a
4
 Example 1

Use the remainder theorem to find the remainder when

2 x 3  5 x 2 is3 xdivided
7 by

a) x – 2 b) 2x + 1

Solution

Let P( x)  2 x3  5 x 2  3x  7

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a) P (2)  2 2  3  5 2  2  3 2   7
 16  20  6  7
9
Therefore, the remainder is 9.
3 2
1  1  1  1
P ( )  2    5    3    7
b)
2  2  2  2
1 5 3
    7
4 4 2
4
Therefore, R = 4 .

Note! The answer for the remainder can be checked by

6
using LONG DIVISION…Please try next page!!
a) b)
2
2x  x 1
2x2  x 1
x  2 2 x3  5 x 2  3x  7 2 x  1 2 x3  5 x 2  3x  7
2 x3  4 x 2 2 x3  4 x 2

 x 2  3x  x 2  3x
 x2  2x  x2  2x
x7
x7
x2 x2
9
9

remainder remainder
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 Example 2

Find the remainder when P(x) = x4 + x3 - 2x2 + 4x - 5

is divided by:

(a) x + 3 (b) x - 3 (c) 3x - 1

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 Solution

P(x) = x4 + x3 - 2x2 + 4x - 5

(a) R = P (-3) = (-3)4 + (-3)3 -2(-3)2 + 4(-3) - 5

= 19

(b) R = P (3) = (3)4 + (3)3 - 2(3)2 + 4(3) – 5

= 97
4 3 2
(c)  1 1 1  1  1
R  P         2   4   5
 3  3  3  3  3
311

81 9
 Example 3

When x 4  kx 3  5 x 2  6 x  8 is divided by
(x + 2) the remainder is 16. Determine k.

Solution

Let P ( x)  x 4  kx 3  5 x 2  6 x  8

Given that P (2)  16

P (2)    2  4  k   2 3  5  2  2  6  2   8  16
 8k  24
10
k  3
 Example 4

The polynomial ax4 - 5x3 + bx2 - 7x + 1 left a remainder

11
of -8 when it is divided by (x -1) and a remainder of
2
when divided by (2x + 1) ,determine the values of a and b.

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Solution P ( x)  ax 4  5 x 3  bx 2  7 x  1

P (1)  8
a  5  b  7  1  8

ab  3 (i)

Also,  1  11
P   
 2 2
4 3 2
 1  1  1  1 11
a    5    b    7    1 
 2  2  2  2 2

a  4b  6 (ii)

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(ii) –(i) : 3b  3
b 1

Substitute b  1 into (i)

a 1  3
a2

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Note:

When a polynomial is divided by a quadratic factor, the

remainder is in linear form , R ( x )  ax  b

Example 5

Determine the remainder when P ( x)  3 x 4  5 x 3  x  6

is divided by x 2  1 .

Solution

Let P ( x)  3x 4  5 x 3  x  6 & D( x)  x 2  1  ( x  1)( x  1)

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Since the divisor is a quadratic, x2 1

Then the remainder is a linear, R ( x)  ax  b

P (1)  3(1) 4  5(1)3  (1)  6  a (1)  b

a  b  15 (i)

&
P (1)  3(1) 4  5(1)3  (1)  6  a (1)  b

ab 3 (ii)

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 (i) –(ii) : 2a  12

a  6

substitute a6 into (i)

6  b  15
b  9

Hence, the remainder is R( x)  6 x  9

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 Example 6

When x 4  4 x 3  px 2  qx  5 is divided by x 2  1
the remainder is 2 x  3 .Find the values of p and q.

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Solution

P(x) = Q(x)D(x) + R(x)

x 4  4 x 3  px 2  qx  5  Q ( x)( x 2  1)  2 x  3

Substituting x = 1;

1 4  41 3  p1 2  q1  5  21  3

p + q = -5 (i)
Substituting x = -1;

  1 4  4  1 3  p  1 2  q  1  5  2  1  3
p – q = -1 (ii)
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(i) + (ii) :
2p = − 6
p=−3

Substituting p = − 3 into (1)

-3 + q = −5

q=−2

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 Exercises

1. Given that M ( x)  2 x 3  x 2  10 x  2
a) Calculate the value of M(1)
b) Hence, write down the value of a such that the
remainder when M(x) is divided by x  a is -7.

2. (a) When polynomial P(x) is divided by x + 2, the

remainder is 5.Find the value of P(-2).
(b) Q(x) is a polynomial such that Q(4) = 10.Find the
remainder when Q(x) is divided by x – 4.
(c) The remainder when a polynomial R(x) is divided
1
by ax  1 is 3. If R   3 , find the value of a.
 2
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3. The polynomial 2 x 3  3 x 2  2 is divided by
(x + 1)(2x – 3). If the remainder is hx + k, where h and k are

constants, determine the values of h and k.

4. When the polynomial x 4  px 3  x 2  qx  6 is divided
by x 2  2 x  3 ,its remainder is 9x.
(a) Find the values of p and q.
(b) Hence, obtain the quotient.

Answers

1.(a) -7 (b) 1 2.(a) 5 (b) 10 (c) 2

3. h = 2 , k = -1 4.(a) p = -2 , q = 5 (b) x2  2
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 FACTOR THEOREM

D If the remainder obtained from dividing the

E polynomial P(x) by (x - a) is zero,
F
then, the linear term (x - a) is called a factor of
I the polynomial P(x).
N
I If P(a) = 0 then (x – a) is a factor of P(x)
T
I
O
N 22
 P ( x)  Q ( x) D ( x)  R ( x)

P ( x)  Q( x)( x  a )

when xa

P (a )  Q ( x)(a  a ) Factor
Theorem

P(a )  0

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1. Conversely, if (x – a) is a factor of P(x),
then P(a) = 0

2. If (ax + b) is a factor of P(x),

then P(- b ) = 0
a
3. In general, if (ax - b) is a factor of P(x),
b
then P( a ) = 0

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Example 1

Determine whether the following linear functions are factors

of the given polynomials:

(a) P(x) = 3 – 7x + 5x2 - x3 ; (x – 3)

(b) P(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 - 8x + 3 ; (2x – 1)
(c) P(x) = x4 - 2x3+ 3x – 6 ; (x + 1)

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 Solution

(a) Let P(x) = 3 – 7x + 5x2 - x3

P(3) = 3 – 7(3) + 5(3)2 - (3)3

=0
Since P(3) = 0, then (x – 3) is a factor of P(x).

(b) Let P( x)  2 x3  3x 2  8 x  3
3 2
1 1 1 1
P   2   3   8   3
 2  2  2  2
0

Since P 1   0 , then (2x - 1) is a factor of P(x). 26

 2
(c) Let P(x) = x4 - 2x3 + 3x – 6
P(-1) = (-1)4 - 2(-1)3 + 3(-1) – 6
= -6  0

Since P(-1)  0, then (x + 1) is not a factor of P(x).

27
 Example 2

If (2x + 1) is a factor of polynomial P(x) = 2x3 + px2 - 5,

find the value of p.

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 Solution

Let P  x   2 x 3
 px 2
5
since (2x + 1) is a factor of P(x),
3 2
Then  1  1  1
P    2    p    5  0
 2  2  2

1 1
  p 5  0
4 4

 p  21

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 Example 3

Given that (x – 2) and (x + 1) are both factors

of the polynomial P(x) = 2x3 + ax2+ bx – 5.
Find the values of the constant a and b.

30
 Solution

Since (x – 2) and (x + 1) are factors of P(x),

we have P(2) = 0 and P(-1) = 0.

P(2) = 2(2)3 + a(2)2+ b(2) – 5 = 0

16 + 4a +2b - 5 = 0

4a +2b = -11……….(1)

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P(-1) = 2(-1)3 + a(-1)2+ b(-1) – 5 = 0

-2 + a – b – 5 = 0

a – b = 7……(2)

Solve equations (1) and (2), we obtain:

1 13
a  ,b  
2 2

32
 Example 4

Given that (x + 2) is a factor of 2x3 + x2 + kx – 4.

Find the constant k. Hence, factorize the
expression completely.

33
Solution

Let P(x) = 2x3 + x2 + kx – 4

Since (x+2) is a factor of P(x), then P(-2) =0.

METHOD 1
P(-2) = 2(-2)3 + (-2)2+ k(-2) – 4 = 0
-16 + 4 – 2k – 4 = 0
2k = -16
k = -8

Therefore , P(x) = 2x3 + x2 - 8x – 4.

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 Since (x + 2) is a factor of P(x), by using long division,
3 2
determine 2 x  x  8x  4
x2

2x 2  3x  2

x2 2 x3  x 2  8x  4
2 x3  4 x 2

 3x 2  8 x
 3x 2  6 x

 2x  4
P(x) = Q(x) D(x) + R(x)
 2x  4
= (2x2 - 3x – 2)(x + 2)
… 35
 METHOD 2
P(x) = 2x3 + x2 - 8x -4
= (x + 2)(ax2 + bx + c)  ax3  bx 2  cx  2ax 2  2bx  2c
 ax 3  (2a  b) x 2  (2b  c) x  2c

Comparing the coefficient:

x3 : a = 2
x2 : 2a + b = 1
2(2) + b = 1
b = -3
constant : 2c = -4
c = -2
P(x) = (x + 2)(2x2 - 3x – 2)
= (x + 2)(2x + 1)(x – 2) 36
 Example 5

Given that the expression 3x3 + ax2 + bx -12 is exactly divisible

by x2 + 2x - 3.
(a) Determine the values of a and b.
(b) Factorize the expression completely.

37
 Solution

(a) Let P ( x)  3x 3  ax 2  bx  12

and
D( x)  x 2  2 x  3  ( x  1)( x  3)

So , P(1) = 0 and P(-3) = 0

P(1) = 3(1)3 + a(1)2 + b(1) –12 = 0

a + b = 9………(1)

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P(3) = 3(3)3 + a(3)2 + b(3) –12 = 0

3a – b = 31………(2)

Solve equations (1) and (2), we obtain

a = 10, b = 1

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b) P ( x )  3 x 3  10 x 2  x  12

3x  4

x2 + 2x - 3 3x 3  10 x 2  x  12
3x 3  6 x 2  9 x
4 x 2  8 x  12
4 x  8 x  12
2

. . .
P(x) = Q(x) D(x) + R(x)
P ( x )  (3 x  4)( x 2  2 x  3)
P ( x )  (3 x  4)( x  1)( x  3) 40