Polynomials

Polynomials Chapter 7
A polynomial can be expressed as

an xn an1 xn1 an2 xn2 ............... a1 x a0
where n is a whole number and an , an1 , an2 ,............, a0 are constants.
The degree of a polynomial is its highest power.
The coefficients are the constants that multiply the x terms.
The roots of the equation f x 0 are the values of x for which f x 0 .
Examples:
1. 3x2 2 x 5
2. 2 x4 7 x3 9 x 5
degree is 2
coefficient of x2 is 3
coefficient of x is 2
3.
degree is 4
coefficient of x is 9
Find the roots of 3x2 19 x 14 0
3x 2 19 x 14 0
3x 2 x 7 0
3x 2 0
3x 2
x
x7 0
x 7
2
3
p132 Exercise 7A qu. 13 orally, qu. 58
Synthetic Division
[Can be used as an alternative method for evaluating a polynomial]
Examples:
1.
f x x 4 3x 3 2 x 2 5 x 9
-2
1
-2
3
2
5
-9
2 2-2 8 -2 26
-2
1
4 13
35
Find f 2 .
coefficient of x4, x3, etc.
So f 2 35. (Pupils to check using calculators)
Page 1 of 8
f x 2 x3 2 x 2 8
2.
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
So f
12 7 43
Find f
0
12
1
2
8
14
12 .
Note:
Coefficients for every power of x
must be included, even if zero!
7 34
(Pupils to check using calculators)
[Note: Top sections can be shown algebraic long division at this stage as an alternative to
synthetic division not in course, but very good for progression into Advanced Higher.]
p133 Exercise 7B qu. 2
When 35 8, 4 is the quotient, 3 is the remainder and 8 is the divisor.
(35 8 = 4 r 3)
So 35 = 8 4 + 3
The Remainder Theorem
Consider f x x h : Let the quotient be Q x .
f x x h Q x + remainder
So
If x = h,
f h h h Q h + remainder
= remainder
If a polynomial f x is divided by x h the remainder is f h .
Example
Find the quotient and remainder when f x 4 x3 2 x 7 is divided by x 2.

xh=x2
f h f 2
4
4
coefficients of quotient
i.e. quotient = 4 x2 8x 14
remainder = 35
p135 Exercise 7C qu. 2(a d), 3
Page 2 of 8
0
8
8
2
16
14
7
28
35
remainder
The Factor Theorem

For any polynomial f x , if f h 0 then x h is a factor of f x .
Conversely, if x h is a factor of f x then f h 0 .
(For numbers, 4 is a factor of 24 because 24 4 = 6 r 0)
Example
Show that
x 1
is a factor of x4 8x3 7 x2 9 x 9 .
Factor if remainder = 0 i.e. f 1 0
f 1
1
1
8
1
7
7
7
0
9
0
9
9
9
0
Also show method of

substitution for
evaluating f (1).
f 1 0 , so remainder is 0
Hence x 1 is a factor of x4 8x3 7 x2 9 x 9
The factor theorem can be used to help factorise polynomials.

Example
Factorise fully x3 11x2 23x 35
Note: Top pupils should be able to factorise cubics by inspection, particularly when given a
factor. However, the following method should still be shown, particularly for finding missing
coefficients.
The factors of 35 are 1, 5, 7, 35 , so try evaluating f 1 , f 1 etc. until a
factor is found:
f 1 :
1
1
1
11
1
10
23
10
13
35
13
48
f 1 48 , i.e. remainder = 48
so x 1 is not a factor.
f 1 :
1
1
1
11
1
12
23
12
35
35
35
0
f 1 0 , i.e. remainder = 0
Hence f x x 1 x 12 x 35
so x 1 is a factor
x 1 x 5 x 7
Note:
Communication of
result is important!
p137 Exercise 7E
Page 3 of 8
Finding a Polynomials Coefficients

Example:
If x 2 is a factor of x3 9 x2 px 34 , find the value of p.
x 2
is a factor, so remainder = 0, i.e. f 2 0
f 2 :
9
2
7
1
1
p
14
p 14
34
2 p 28
2p 6
f 2 0
2p 6 0
2 p 6
p 3
Example:
Find the values of a and b if x 1 and x 2 are factors of

x4 ax3 3x2 bx 6 .
x 1 is a factor so remainder = 0, i.e. f 1 0

f 1 :
1
1
a
3
b
1
a 1
a 2
1
a 1
a2
ab2
6
a b 2
a b 8
f 1 0
a b 8 0
a b 8
x 2
f 2 :
is a factor so remainder = 0, i.e. f 2 0

2
1
1
a
2
a2
3
2a 4
2a 1
b
4a 2
4a b 2
f 2 0
8a 2b 2 0
8a 2b 2
4a b 1
a b 8
4a b 1
a b 8
4a b 1
3a 9
a3
p138 Exercise 7F
Page 4 of 8
a b 8
3 b 8
b 11
6
8a 2b 4
8a 2b 2
Solving a Polynomial Equation

Find the roots of x3 9 x2 14 x 24 0 .
[Reminder: Use inspection if pupils are able]
Example:
We must factorise the polynomial before we can solve the equation.

Factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
Try f 1 :
9
1
8
1
1
Try f 1 :
14
8
6
9
1
10
1
1
24
6
30
14
10
24
0 so not a factor
24
24
0
remainder = 0
so (x + 1) is a factor
x3 9 x 2 14 x 24 0
x 1 x 2 10 x 24 0
x 1 x 4 x 6 0
x 1 0
x4 0
x6 0
x4
x6
x 1
p140 Exercise 7G qu. 1, 2, 4(a, b), 5, 6
Functions from Graphs

The equation of a polynomial can be obtained from its graph:
y
The equation is of the form
f x k x a x b x c
d
a
Example:
k can be found by substituting (0, d)
From the graph, find an expression for f x .

f(x)
14
Page 5 of 8
Zeroes are 2, 3 and 7, so x 2 , x 3 and x 7 are factors.
So f x k x 2 x 3 x 7
0,14 :
14 k 2 3 7
14 42k
k 13
f x 13 x 2 x 3 x 7
13 x 2 x 3 x 7
2
13 x x 6 x 7
3
2
2
13 x x 6 x 7 x 7 x 42
3
2
13 x 8 x x 42
1 3 8 2 1
3 x 3 x 3 x 14
p141 Exercise 7H qu. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 15

Curve Sketching
Curve sketching was covered in the Differentiation chapter, but we can now factorise more
difficult polynomials.
Example: Sketch the graph of the function f x 2 x 2 14 x 12
dy
0
dx
6 x 2 14 0
At stationary points,
6 x 2 14
x2
7
3
x 1 53
At x 1 53,
y 2 x3 14 x 12 26 26 1 53, 26 26
At x 1 53, y 2 x3 14 x 12 2 26
Nature:
dp
dx
x
6 x 2 14
slope
2
+
153
0
max
(153, 226) is a maximum turning point

(153, 2626) is a minimum turning point
Page 6 of 8
1.53, 2 26
0
153
0
2
+
min
Emphasise the minimum
requirement for a nature
table in exams!
Intercepts: At x 0, y 2 x3 14 x 12 12
0, 12
At y 0, 2 x3 14 x 12 0
2 x3 7 x 6 0
Factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, 6
Try f 1 :
1
1
Try f 1 :
7
1
6
0
1
1
7
1
6
0
1
1
6
6
12
0 so not a factor
6
6
0
Remainder = 0
so x 1 is a factor
2 x3 7 x 6 0
2 x 1 x 2 x 6 0
2 x 1 x 3 x 2 0
x 1 0
x 1
(1, 0)
x 3 0
x3
(3, 0)
(153, 226)
x20
x 2
(2, 0)
y
x
12
(153, 2626)
p143 Exercise 7I qu. 5, 3, 6, 9
Page 7 of 8
Iteration ( i.e. finding approximate roots)

Example: (a) Show that x3 5x2 x 5 has a root between 4 and 5
(b) Find this root to 2 decimal places
(a)
f 4 43 5 4 4 5 7
i.e. below x-axis
f 5 53 5 5 5 5 10
i.e. above x-axis
So graph crosses the x-axis between 4 and 5

i.e. there is a root between 4 and 5
(b)
x
f(x)
10
45
47
46
455
453
454
4535
root between .
4 and 5
45 and 5
+
45 and 47
3073
+
45 and 46
1136
+
45 and 455
0234
+
453 and 455
0115
+
453 and 454
0059
+
and 454
So the
root is 454 to 4535
2 decimal
places
0028
+
0625
4.53
4.535
4.54
Note: When finding root to 2 decimal places, the last line is to 3 decimal places so we know
how to round our answer.
p138 Exercise 7J qu. 1, 4, 6

p138 Exercise 7K qu. 4, 5, 7
Page 8 of 8

Polynomials

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Polynomials

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Polynomials

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Polynomials Chapter 7

A polynomial can be expressed as

Find the roots of 3x2 19 x 14 0

p132 Exercise 7A qu. 13 orally, qu. 58

So f 2 35. (Pupils to check using calculators)

(Pupils to check using calculators)

If a polynomial f x is divided by x h the remainder is f h .

Find the quotient and remainder when f x 4 x3 2 x 7 is divided by x 2.

The Factor Theorem

Factor if remainder = 0 i.e. f 1 0

Also show method of

The factor theorem can be used to help factorise polynomials.

Factorise fully x3 11x2 23x 35

Finding a Polynomials Coefficients

If x 2 is a factor of x3 9 x2 px 34 , find the value of p.

is a factor, so remainder = 0, i.e. f 2 0

Find the values of a and b if x 1 and x 2 are factors of

x 1 is a factor so remainder = 0, i.e. f 1 0

is a factor so remainder = 0, i.e. f 2 0

Solving a Polynomial Equation

We must factorise the polynomial before we can solve the equation.

p140 Exercise 7G qu. 1, 2, 4(a, b), 5, 6

Functions from Graphs

The equation is of the form

k can be found by substituting (0, d)

From the graph, find an expression for f x .

Zeroes are 2, 3 and 7, so x 2 , x 3 and x 7 are factors.

p141 Exercise 7H qu. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 15

(153, 226) is a maximum turning point

Iteration ( i.e. finding approximate roots)

i.e. below x-axis

i.e. above x-axis

So graph crosses the x-axis between 4 and 5

p138 Exercise 7J qu. 1, 4, 6

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.