REMAINDER THEOREM If y = P(x) is a polynomial function, then a value of x that satisfies P(x) =0 is called a zero of the polynomial.

The zeros of P(x) are the same as the solutions to the equation P(x) =0. Example: 2 and -2 are zeros of the function P(x) = x2 4 because P(2) = 0 and P(-2) = 0. Also, 2 and -2 are the solutions of the equation x2 4 = 0.

Using the remainder theorem to evaluate a polynomial Example Use the remainder theorem to find P(-4) if P(x) = 2x4 10x2 + 30x 60.

Solution We can substitute for x = -4 in the expression. That is P(-4) = 2(-4)4 10(-4)2 + 30(-4) -60 = 2(256) 10(16) -120 -60 = 512-160-120-60 = 172 So the remainder is 172

We can also use long division to find the remainder.

Another approach is to use synthetic division to find the remainder. -4 2 2 0 -8 -8 -10 32 22 30 -88 -58 -60 232 172

The remainder is 172. Also 2x4 10x2 + 30x 60 = (x+4)(2x3 8x2 + 22x 58) + 172

Example Use long division to find the remainder if 2x4 9x3 + 21x2 -26x +12 is divided by 2x-3. Solution

The remainder is 0. Also 2x4 9x3 + 21x2 - 26x + 12 = (2x-3)(x3 3x2 + 6x 4)

Example Use synthetic division to find the remainder if x4 16 is divided by x-2. Solution

The remainder is 0. Also x4 16 = (x-2)(x3 + 2x2 + 4x +8)

Students Exercise Calculate (x4 3x + 5) divided by (x 4) using long division and synthetic division. (Answer x4 3x + 5 = (x 4)(x3 + 4x2 + 16x +61) + 249)

FACTOR THEOREM

A number c is a zero of the polynomial function y = P(x) if and only if x-c is a factor of the polynomial. In other words, if P( c) = 0 then ( x-c) is a factor of the polynomial and vice versa. Example: 2 and -2 are zeros of the function P(x) = x2 4. Therefore (x 2) and (x + 2) are factors of x2 4.

Example Determine whether x + 4 is a factor of the polynomial P(x) = x3 13x + 12. If it is a factor then factor P(x) completely.

Solution Step 1: By the factor theorem, x + 4 is a factor of P(x) if and only if P(-4) = 0. P(-4) = (-4)3 13(-4) + 12= -64 + 52 + 12 = 0. Since P(-4) = 0, then x + 4 is a factor.

Step 2: The other factor is the quotient from synthetic division, so P(x) = (x+4)(x2 4x + 3) -4 1 1 0 -4 -4 -13 16 3 12 -12 0

Step 3: Factoring the quadratic term, we obtain P(x) = (x + 4) (x 3) (x 1)

Students Exercise 1. Factorise x3 7x 6 2. Solve the equation -2x3 + 11x2 -17x +6=0.

Solution 1. (x + 1)(x 3)(x + 2) 2. So x = 2 or x = 0.5 or x = 3