LECTURE 3 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) find the roots of the equations and the zeros of a polynomial

1
 Example 6

The polynomial 2x3 + ax2 + bx + 8 has a factor

(x - 1) and gives a remainder of 50 when divided by
(x - 3). Determine a and b.

2
Solution

Let P ( x)  2 x 3  ax 2  bx  8
P (1)  0 & P (3)  50

P(1) = 2(1)3 + a(1)2 + b(1) + 8 = 0

a + b = 10 …………..(1)
P(3) = 2(3)3 + a(3)2 + b(3) + 8 = 50
9a + 3b = 12 …………...(2)

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

a = 3, b = 13

3
 Example 7

When the polynomial P(x) is divided by (x2 - 1) its remainder is

(ax + b), where a and b are constants.
Given that (x + 1) is a factor of P(x) and that the remainder is 4
where P(x) is divided by (x - 1), find the value of a and b.

4
Solution

P(-1) = 0 and P(1) = 4

Since the divisor is x2 -1

Then, the remainder is R(x) = ax+b from the remainder

theorem

R(-1) = P(-1) R(1) = P(1)

R(-1) = a(-1) +b

-a + b = 0 (i)

5
 R(1) = a(1) +b

a+b=4 (ii)

Solving equation (i) and (ii) we get

2b = 4
b=2

substitute b = 2 into (ii)

a=4-2
a=2

Hence, the remainder is R(x) = 2x + 2

= 2(x + 1)

6
 Example 8

Factorize 6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4
 Solution

Substitute the factors of the constant ±1, ±2, ±3…

until P( x)  0
Let P ( x)  6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4

P  1  6  1 4  11  1 3  7  1 2  8  1  4  0
P (1)  61 4  111 3  71 2  81  4  0

P  2   6  2  4  11  2  3  7  2  2  8  2   4  0
P 2   6 2  4  11 2 3  7 2  2  8 2  4 0

Note: Calculator can be used to find the factor of P(x) 8

8
 Therefore, x +1 and x+2 is a factor of P(x)

 x  1 x  2  x 2  3x  2
6x 2  7 x  2
x 2  3x  2 6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4
6 x 4  18 x 3  12 x 2

 7 x 3  19 x 2  8 x
 7 x 3  21x 2  14 x
2x 2  6x  4
2x 2  6x  4
. . . 9
6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4  ( x  1)( x  2)(6 x 2  bx  2)

 ( x  1)( x  2)(6 x 2  7 x  2)

 ( x  1)( x  2)(3x  2)(2 x  1)

10
Exercises

1. Find the value of the constant r, if

3 2
(a) x + 3 is a factor of x  x  5x  r
3 2
(b) 2x – 1 is a factor of 2 x  rx  3 x  2

2. If a polynomial S ( x)  x 3  2 x 2  13 x  10
(a) show that x + 2 is a factor of S(x)
(b) obtain the all the factors of S(x)

3. The polynomial 2 x 3  9 x 2 has

 17axfactor
 6 in the
form x – m, where m is a positive integer. Determine the
value of m and hence factorize the polynomial completely.

11
4. Show that x – 2 and 3x – 2 are factors of
P ( x)  3 x 4  8 x 3  7 x 2 Hence,
8 x  4. find the quadratic
factors of P(x).

Answers

1.(a) 3 (b) -3

2.(b) (x + 1),(x – 5) and (x + 2)

3. m  1,  x  1 2 x  1 x  6 

4. x 2  1

12
 DEFINITION
ZE
R A zero of a polynomial P(x) is any value of x for
OS which P(x) = 0.
A
N in other words,
D
R A zero of polynomial P(x) is a root of equation P(x) =
O 0.
O For example, if x = 2, x 3  x 2  3 x  6
TS
 8 466
0
Therefore, 2 is a zero of x 3  x 2  3x  6

2 is a root of x 3  x 2  3 x  6  0.
13
 In general, if x isa a root of a polynomial
equation P(x) = 0,then

(isx  a)
a factor of P(x).

Every polynomial equation of degree n has exactly n

roots. Some of these roots may be repeated.

14
 Example 1

Show that - 4 is a zero of 6x3 + 23x2 – 5x - 4

Solution

Let P(x) = 6x3 + 23x2 – 5x – 4

P(-4) = 6(-4)3 + 23(-4)2 -5(-4) - 4

=0

Since P(-4) = 0, then - 4 is a zero of P(x)

15
Example 2

Factorize P(x) = 2x3 – 9x2 + 3x + 4 and write all the zeros.

Solution
Substitute the factors of the constant term
Such as  1,2,... to get first factor.

P (1)  2(1)3  9(1) 2  3(1)  4

0

 ( x is1)one of the factor

16
By using long division,
2x 2  7 x  4

x 1 2 x3  9 x 2  3x  4
2 x3  2 x 2

 7 x 2  3x
 7 x2  7x

 4x  4
 4x  4
…

17
 2 x 3  9 x 2  3 x  4  ( x  1)(2 x 2  7 x  4)

 ( x  1)(2 x  1)( x  4)

( x  1)(2 x  1)( x  4)  0
1
\ The zeros are 1, and 4.
2

18
 Example 3

Factorize P(x) = 6x3 + 13x2 – 4 and write its roots and zeros.

19
 Solution

Substitute the factors of the constant ±1, ±2, ±3…

until P ( x)  0

We have P (1)  61 3  131 2  4  0

P (1)  6  1 3  13  1 2  4  0

P (2)  6 2  3  13 2  2  4  0

P (2)  6  2  3  13  2 2  4  0

Note: Calculator can be used to find the factor of P(x)

20
Therefore, (x + 2) is a factor of P(x) .
By using long division:

6x 2  x  2
x2 6 x 3  13x 2  0 x  4
6 x 3  12 x 2

x 2  0x
x 2  2x

 2x  4
 2x  4

. . . 21
 Therefore,


6 x 3  13 x 2  4  ( x  2) 6 x 2  x  2 
  x  2  2 x  1 3 x  2 

1 2
The roots are x  2, x  , x 
2 3

The zeros are 1 2

 2, , 
2 3

22
 Example 4

Find the roots for the equation x3 + 3x2 + x – 1 = 0

Solution

Let P( x)  x 3  3x 2  x  1
P (1)  (1)3  3(1) 2  (1)  1
0

P (1)  (1)3  3(1) 2  (1)  1

0

 ( x  1) is one of the factor

23
By using long division,
x2  2x 1

x 1 x3  3x 2  x  1
x3  x 2

2x2  x

2x2  2x

 x 1
 x 1
…

24
P( x)  0 cannot be
factorised
( x  1)( x 2  2 x  1)  0

x  1  0 or x2  2x 1  0
x  1
 2  4  4(1)(1)
x
2
 1 2

The roots are x  1, 1  2, 1  2

25
Example 5

Determine all the roots and zeroes of

x 4  x3  7 x 2  x  6  0

26
 Solution

Let P ( x)  x 4  x 3  7 x 2  x  6  0

By inspection
P (1)  (1) 4  (1)3  7(1) 2  (1)  6  0

P (1)  (1) 4  (1)3  7(1) 2  (1)  6  0

Therefore, (x – 1) and (x + 1) are the factors of P(x)

 P ( x)  ( x  1)( x  1)( Ax 2  Bx  C )
 ( x 2  1)( Ax 2  Bx  C )
27
 x 4  x 3  7 x 2  x  6  Ax 4  Bx3  (C  A) x 2  Bx  C

By comparing the coefficient :

A = 1 , B = 1 , C = -6

 P ( x)  ( x  1)( x  1)( x 2  x  6)
 ( x  1)( x  1)( x  3)( x  2)

 P( x)  0

The roots are ( x  1)( x  1)( x  3)( x  2)  0

x  1,1  3, 2
The zeroes are 1,1, 3, 2 28
 Note:
When attempting to factorize
a polynomial of degree 4, it is
necessary to find two linear factors
using the factor theorem.

29
 Exercises

1. (a) If P ( x)  3 x 3  7 x 2  7 x  3 ,factorize P(x) completely.

(b) Find the roots of the equations P(x) = 0
2. Given that
M ( x)  2 x 4  3x 3  10 x 2  12 x  8  (2 x  p)( x  q)( x  r ) 2 ,
where p, q and r are positive integers.
(a) determine the values of p, q and r.
(b) State the zeros of M(x).

Answers
1
1. (a) ( x  1)(3 x  1)( x  3)(b)  1, ,3
3
1
2. (a) p = 1, q = 2, r = 2 (b) ,2,2,2 30
2