Factor Theorem

Topic: Factor Theorem
Defining Factor Theorem
In mathematics, factor theorem is used when factoring the polynomials

completely. It is a theorem that links factors and zeros of the polynomial.
According to factor theorem, if f(x) is a polynomial of degree n ≥ 1 and ‘a’ is any
real number, then, (x-a) is a factor of f(x), if f(a)=0.Also, we can say, if (x-a) is a
factor of polynomial f(x), then f(a) = 0.
This proves the converse of the theorem. Let us see the proof of this theorem
along with examples. Factor theorem is commonly used for factoring a
polynomial and finding the roots of the polynomial. It is a special case of a
polynomial remainder theorem.
The factor theorem is especially useful in finding the roots of a large degree (4
or more). By finding the one root and using it to synthetically divide through the
polynomial, we're able to obtain a smaller polynomial for which we repeat the
process until we find the last root. The factor theorem is very handy tools. It ell us
that we can find factors of a polynomial without using long division, synthetic
division, or other traditional methods of factoring. Using these theorems is
somewhat of a trial and error method.
Process
The Factor Theorem is an algebraic topic that involves finding the roots (or zeros) of a
polynomial function. There are two methods that one can use in discovering the roots:
 Trial and Error Method

 Berry Method (for binomial functions only)
The definition for factor theorem is for a function, f(x) and when f(s)=0 then (x-s) is a
factor of the polynomial. The other factors can be found using long division or synthetic
division once (x-s) has been established.
Berry Method
Factoring into Binomials
Factoring a polynomial of the 2nd degree into binomials is the most basic concept of the
Factor Theorem. For example, given the polynomial f(x) = x 2 + 6x + 5, the factors are
(x+1) and (x+5), which make the roots or zeros of the function -1 and -5. Let’s take a
look at how I arrived to this conclusion:
With the function given above you can start always on your scratch paper by writing
down (x+?)(x+?) this will be the same for all functions where the constant in front of
the x2 term is 1. The key is finding what the question marks are. This can be achieved by
using the Berry Method. The question I would ask myself is what two same numbers
add to be 6 and multiply to be 5 (Constants B and C).
Incorporating the Berry Method
As you can see in the above diagram I placed 5 and 6 in the upper and lower part of the
“X”. And the 1 and 5 in the left and right part of the “X”, and as you can see 5 and 1 do
add to be 6 and 5 and 1 do multiply to be 5. So the roots are -5 and -1. This diagram can
be used in any other similar examples so a student can easily evaluate the roots of the
binomial. Let’s take a look at one more example...
Suppose you see the function f(x) = x2 - 14x + 45 and you are asked to find the roots.
What is the correct answer? You can use the Berry method diagram again if needed or
just ask yourself what two same numbers add to be negative 14 and multiply to be
positive 45. In this case it is negative 5 and negative 9. So the roots would be positive 5
and positive 9.
(x-5)(x-9) = 0, where x equals 5 and 9.
Trial and Error Method
Factoring into Trinomials

Factoring a polynomial into a set of trinomials can be a bit more difficult but can also be
easily achieved as well. In this case, you will have to use a trial and error method to find
a factor (x-s). Suppose you have the function f(x) = x 3 - 6x2 + 11x - 6 and you need to
find the zeros of the function. The zeros turn out to be 1, 2, and 3. Let’s see how we got
to these answers:
Trial and Error Method

With the trial and error method you will need to try and guess a number that makes the
polynomial equal to zero. This sounds like a time consuming task but most algebra texts
will have a zero of a function between negative 5 and positive 5. Say you try plugging in
4 into the above equation. If you do, you will get an answer of f(x) = 6 which is not
equal to zero so 4 cannot be a root. But say you plug in 1, now you do get f(x) = 0 so 1
is a root so you can conclude that (x-1) is indeed a factor of the polynomial.
Using Synthetic Division to find other factors

Now that we have established that (x-1) is one factor of the trinomial you can use
synthetic division to find the other two factors.
So by synthetic division another factor of the trinomial is (x2 - 5x + 6) which can further
be factored into
(x-2)(x-3) (See above notes on factoring into binomials.)
So now f(x) can be written as f(x) = (x-1)(x-2)(x-3). So to find the roots you set each of
these factors equal to zero.
(x-1)(x-2)(x-3) = 0, where x equals 1, 2, and 3.

EXAMPLES
Example 1: Examine whether x + 2 is a factor of x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 6 and of 2x + 4.
Solution: The zero of x + 2 is –2.

Let p(x) = x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 6 and s(x) = 2x + 4
Then, p(–2) = (–2)3 + 3(–2)2 + 5(–2) + 6
= –8 + 12 – 10 + 6
=0
So, by the Factor Theorem, x + 2 is a factor of x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 6.
Again, s(–2) = 2(–2) + 4 = 0
So, x + 2 is a factor of 2x + 4.
Example 2: Use the factor theorem to determine whether x – 1 is a factor of

(a) x3 + 8x2 – 7x – 2
(b) 2x3 + 5x2 – 7
(c) 8x4 + 12x3 – 18x + 14
Solutions:
Example 3: Show that (x – 3) is a factor of the polynomial x3 – 3x2 + 4x – 12
Solution:
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Factor Theorem

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Topic: Factor Theorem

Defining Factor Theorem

In mathematics, factor theorem is used when factoring the polynomials

 Trial and Error Method

Incorporating the Berry Method

(x-5)(x-9) = 0, where x equals 5 and 9.

Trial and Error Method

Factoring into Trinomials

Trial and Error Method

Using Synthetic Division to find other factors

(x-2)(x-3) (See above notes on factoring into binomials.)

(x-1)(x-2)(x-3) = 0, where x equals 1, 2, and 3.

Solution: The zero of x + 2 is –2.

Example 2: Use the factor theorem to determine whether x – 1 is a factor of

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