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Factor Theorem Simplified Revision Notes

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2.5.3 Factor Theorem

Remainder Theorem:

  • If a polynomial f(x)f(x) is divided by (xa)(x - a), the remainder is given by f(a)f(a).

Factor Theorem:

  • If for a polynomial f(x)f(x) it is the case that f(a)=0f(a) = 0, then (xa)(x - a) is a factor.
infoNote

Example:

  • Find the remainder when x3+8x26x+2x^3 + 8x^2 - 6x + 2 is divided by x+6x + 6.
  1. Polynomial Long Division:
  • Divide x3+8x26x+2x^3 + 8x^2 - 6x + 2 by x+6x + 6.

  • Step-by-step division process yields a quotient and a remainder.

  • Result:

  • Quotient: x2+2x18x^2 + 2x - 18

  • Remainder: 110

  • Therefore, r=110r = 110

  1. Using the Remainder Theorem:
  • A quicker way to find the remainder is using the remainder theorem.
  • If f(x)f(x) is divided by xcx - c, the remainder is f(c)f(c).
  • Here, f(x)=x3+8x26x+2f(x) = x^3 + 8x^2 - 6x + 2, and we divide by x+6(x(6))x + 6 ( x - (-6) ).
  • Substituting x=6x = -6 into f(x)f(x):
  • f(6)=(6)3+8(6)26(6)+2f(-6) = (-6)^3 + 8(-6)^2 - 6(-6) + 2
  • f(6)=216+288+36+2f(-6) = -216 + 288 + 36 + 2
  • f(6)=110f(-6) = 110
  1. Conclusion:
  • The remainder when x3+8x26x+2x^3 + 8x^2 - 6x + 2 is divided by x+6x + 6 is 110.
infoNote

Example Problem:

Given: g(x)=2x3+x213x+6g(x) = 2x^3 + x^2 - 13x + 6

Task:

  1. Show that (x+3)(x + 3) is a factor of g(x)g(x).
  2. Solve the equation g(x)=0g(x) = 0.

Solution:

  1. Check if (x+3)(x + 3) is a factor using the Factor Theorem:
  • Evaluate g(3)g(-3): g(3)=2(3)3+(3)213(3)+6g(-3) = 2(-3)^3 + (-3)^2 - 13(-3) + 6 g(3)=2(27)+9+39+6g(-3) = 2(-27) + 9 + 39 + 6 g(3)=54+9+39+6g(-3) = -54 + 9 + 39 + 6 g(3)=0g(-3) = 0
  • Since g(3)=0g(-3) = 0, x+3x + 3 is a factor by the Factor Theorem.
  1. Find the other factors:
  • Perform polynomial division of g(x)g(x) by x+3x + 3 : 2x3+x213x+6x+32x25x+2\begin{array}{r|rrrr} & 2x^3 & + x^2 & - 13x & + 6 \\ x+3 & 2x^2 & -5x & + 2 & \\ \end{array}
  • Step-by-step division:
  • Divide 2x32x^3 by x:2x2x : 2x^2
  • Multiply 2x22x^2 by x+3:2x3+6x2x + 3 : 2x^3 + 6x^2
  • Subtract: 2x3+x213x+6)(2x3+6x2)=5x213x+62x^3 + x^2 - 13x + 6) - (2x^3 + 6x^2) = -5x^2 - 13x + 6
  • Divide -5x25x^2 by x:5xx : -5x
  • Multiply 5x-5x by x+3:5x215xx + 3: -5x^2 - 15x
  • Subtract: (5x213x+6)(5x215x)=2x+6(-5x^2 - 13x + 6) - (-5x^2 - 15x) = 2x + 6
  • Divide 2x2x by x:2x : 2
  • Multiply 22 by x+3:2x+6 x + 3 : 2x + 6
  • Subtract: (2x+6)(2x+6)=0(2x + 6) - (2x + 6) = 0
  • Therefore: g(x)=(x+3)(2x25x+2)g(x) = (x + 3)(2x^2 - 5x + 2)
  1. Factor the quadratic 2x25x+22x^2 - 5x + 2:
  • Use the quadratic formula ax2+bx+cax^2 + bx + c: 2x25x+2=02x^2 - 5x + 2 = 0
  • Solution using the quadratic formula x=b±b24ac2ax = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}: x=5±(5)242222x = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{(-5)^2 - 4 \cdot 2 \cdot 2}}{2 \cdot 2} x=5±25164x = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{25 - 16}}{4} x=5±34x = \frac{5 \pm 3}{4} x=2orx=12x = 2 \quad \text{or} \quad x = \frac{1}{2}
  • Therefore: 2x25x+2=(2x1)(x2)2x^2 - 5x + 2 = (2x - 1)(x - 2)
  1. Complete Factorization and Solution: g(x)=(x+3)(2x1)(x2)g(x) = (x + 3)(2x - 1)(x - 2)
  • Solving g(x)=0g(x) = 0: (x+3)(2x1)(x2)=0(x + 3)(2x - 1)(x - 2) = 0 x=3,2x=1x=12,x=2x = -3, \quad 2x =1\quad x = \frac{1}{2}, \quad x = 2
  • Therefore, the solutions are: x=3,12,2\boxed {x = -3, \frac{1}{2}, 2}

Polynomial Division and Factorization

infoNote

Example 1: Finding the Remainder

  • Problem: Find the remainder when x3+6x2+2x^3 + 6x^2 + 2 is divided by 3x23x - 2.
  • Set 3x2=03x - 2 = 0 to find x=23x = \frac{2}{3}.
  • Adapt the remainder theorem: Substitute x=23x = \frac{2}{3} into the polynomial.
  • Calculation:

f(23)=(23)3+6(23)2+2f\left(\frac{2}{3}\right) = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^3 + 6\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2 + 2 =827+649+2= \frac{8}{27} + 6 \cdot \frac{4}{9} + 2 =827+249+2= \frac{8}{27} + \frac{24}{9} + 2 =827+7227+5427= \frac{8}{27} + \frac{72}{27} + \frac{54}{27} =13427= \frac{134}{27}

  • Remainder: r=13427\boxed {r = \frac{134}{27}}
infoNote

Example 2: Factorization

  • Problem: Show that (x2)(x - 2) is a factor of 2x3+3x218x+82x^3 + 3x^2 - 18x + 8 and factorize completely.
  • Use the factor theorem: Substitute x=2x = 2 and check if f(2)=0f(2) = 0.
  • Calculation:

f(2)=2(2)3+3(2)218(2)+8f(2) = 2(2)^3 + 3(2)^2 - 18(2) + 8 =2(8)+3(4)36+8= 2(8) + 3(4) - 36 + 8 =16+1236+8= 16 + 12 - 36 + 8 =0= 0

  • Conclusion: x2x - 2 is a factor.
  • Finding Other Factors:
  • Polynomial division: 2x3+3x218x+8x22x2+7x4\begin{array}{r|rrrr} & 2x^3 & + 3x^2 & - 18x & + 8 \\ x-2 & 2x^2 & + 7x & - 4 & \\ \end{array}
  • Dividing: 2x318x+8=(x2)(2x2+7x4)2x^3 - 18x + 8 = (x-2)(2x^2 + 7x - 4)
  • Further factorize 2x2+7x42x^2 + 7x - 4: 2x2+7x4=(2x1)(x+4)2x^2 + 7x - 4 = (2x - 1)(x + 4)
  • Complete Factorization: g(x)=(x2)(2x1)(x+4)\boxed {g(x) = (x - 2)(2x - 1)(x + 4)}
infoNote

Example 3: Finding Values of cc and dd

  • Problem: Given that (x+1)(x + 1) and (x2)(x - 2) are factors of cx3+dx29x10cx^3 + dx^2 - 9x - 10, find cc and dd.

  • Conditions: f(1)=0andf(2)=0f(-1) = 0 \quad \text{and} \quad f(2) = 0

  • Calculation:

  • For f(1)=0f(-1) = 0 : c(1)3+d(1)29(1)10=0c(-1)^3 + d(-1)^2 - 9(-1) - 10 = 0 =c+d+910=0=-c + d + 9 - 10 = 0 c+d1=0c+d=1-c + d - 1 = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad -c + d = 1

  • For f(2)=0f(2) = 0: c(2)3+d(2)29(2)10=0c(2)^3 + d(2)^2 - 9(2) - 10 = 0 =8c+4d1810=0=8c + 4d - 18 - 10 = 0 8c+4d28=02c+d=78c + 4d - 28 = 0 \quad \\ \Rightarrow \quad 2c + d = 7

  • Solving the System:

  • Use simultaneous equations: {c+d=12c+d=7\begin{cases} -c + d = 1 \\ 2c + d = 7 \end{cases} Subtract the first equation from the second: 3c=6c=23c = 6 \quad \Rightarrow \quad c = 2

  • Substitute c=2c = 2 into the first equation: 2+d=1d=3-2 + d = 1 \quad \Rightarrow \quad d = 3

  • Solution: c=2,d=3\boxed {c = 2,\\ \quad d = 3}

Summary:

  • When only asked for the remainder, use the remainder theorem by evaluating the polynomial at the given value.
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