OUTCOMES :

At the end of the lesson, students

should be able to :

(a) relate the remainder and factor

theorems to solve problems.
(b) find the roots of the equations and
the zeroes of a polynomial.
 The Remainder Theorem
When a polynomial P(x) is divided by x-a,
then, the remainder is P(a).
Proof
Let P(x) be a polynomial of degree n (n ≥ 2).
P(x) = Q(x) (x – a) + R
divisor constant
When x = a,
P(a) = Q(a) (a – a) + R
(a – a) = 0

then the remainder, R = P(a)

 NOTE :

1. If P(x) is divided by x + a = x - (-a),

then R = P (a)

 b
2. If P(x) is divided by ax – b = a  x   ,
 a
b
then R = P  
a
Example 1
Find the remainders when
P( x)  2x  6x  4x  3 is divided by :
3 2

(a) x  3 (b) 2x 1
Solution
P(3)  2  3  6  3  4  3  3
3 2
(a)
=  117
3 2
1 1 1 1 15
(b) P    2   6   4   3 =
 2  2  2  2 4
Example 2
When 5x  x  8k is divided by
2

x 1 the remainder is 2. Determine k.

Solution
Let P( x)  5x  x  8k
2

P(1)  2
5(1)  (1)  8k  2
2

8k  4
1
k
2
Example 3
The polynomial P(x) gives a remainder
of 1 when divided by x  2, a
remainder of 3 when divided by x  2 .
Determine the remainder when P(x) is
divided by x 2  4 .
Solution
P(2)  1 and P(2)  3
Since the divisor is x  4
2

the remainder R( x)  ax  b
 R(2)  P(2)  1 and R(  2) = P(2)  3

2a  b  1...............................(1)
2a  b  3............................(2)
Solve (1) and (2)

1
a and b = 2
2
1
Therefore, the remainder, R( x)   x  2
2
 The Factor Theorem
If P(a) = 0, then (x – a) is a factor of P(x)

Example 4
Show that x  2 is a factor of x  4x  x  6.
3 2

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

P(2)   2  4 2   2  6
3 2

0
Thus, x  2 is a factor of x  4x  x  6.
3 2
Example 5
When P( x)  3x3  ax 2  bx  1 is

divided by x  2 , the

remainder is 15 and x 1
is one of the factor . Determine

the values of a and b.

Solution
Let P( x)  3x  ax  bx  1
3 2

P(2)  15 and P(1) = 0

P(2)  15
3(2)  a(2)  b(2)  1  15
3 2

4a  2b  10
2a  b  5.........(1)
 P(1)  0
3(1)  a(1)  b(1)  1  0
3 2

a  b  4
a  b  4...............(2)
2a  b  5.........(1)
.

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

a  1 and b = 3
 ZERO OF A POLYNOMIAL
If P(a) = 0, then “a” is a zero of
polynomial P(x).

EXAMPLE
If P( x)  x  4 x  x  6
3 2

then P( x)   x  1 x  2 x  3

P(1)  P(2)  P(3)  0

Thus, 1, 2 and 3 are the zeroes of P(x).

 ROOT OF A POLYNOMIAL
If P(a) = 0, then x = a is a root of a
polynomial equation P(x) = 0.

EXAMPLE
If P( x )  x 3  4 x 2  x  6  0
then P( x)   x  1 x  2 x  3  0
P(1)  P(2)  P(3)  0

x  1, x  2 and x  3 are the roots of P (x) = 0.

Example 6
Given P( x)  3x3  7 x 2  2 x  8,

(a) show that x  1 is a factor of P(x),

(b) factorise P(x) completely ,

(c) find all the zeroes of P(x),

(d) find the roots of P(x) = 0.

 Solution
a) P( x )  3 x  7 x  2 x  8
3 2

P(1)  31  7 1  2 1  8

3 2

0
Thus, x  1 is a factor of P(x).


b) P( x)   x  1 Ax2  Bx  C 
By comparing coefficients of:
x3 : A = 3 constant : C = 8
x2 : B-A = 7
B = 10
A = 3, B = 10, C=8


P( x)   x  1 Ax  Bx  C
2


P( x)   x  1 3x  10x  8
2

 P( x)   x  13x  4 x  2
c)
P( x)   x  13x  4 x  2

4
Zeroes are 2,  and 1
3

d)
P( x)   x  13x  4 x  2  0

4
Roots are x  2, x  and x 1
3
Example 7

-1 is one of the zeroes of the polynomial

P(x) = x4 + mx3 + nx2 –x + 6 and P(x) is

divisible by x - 1. Find the values of m and

n. Hence, find all the roots of P(x) = 0.

Solution

Let P(x) = x4 + mx3 + nx2 –x + 6

P(-1 ) = 0

(-1)4 + m(-1)3 + n(-1)2 -(-1) + 6 = 0

1- m+ n+1+ 6 = 0

- m+ n = -8 (i)
 P(1 ) = 0
(1)4 + m(1)3 + n(1)2 –(1) + 6 = 0
1+ m+ n - 1+ 6 = 0
m+ n = - 6 (ii)
- m+ n = -8 (i)
Solve equation (i) and (ii):
n = -7 and m = 1
P(x) = x4 + x3 -7x2 –x + 6

P(x) = (x -1)( x + 1)(Ax2 + Bx + C )

= ( x2 - 1) (Ax2 + Bx + C )
P(x) = (x -1)( x + 1)(Ax2 + Bx + C )
= ( x2 - 1) (Ax2 + Bx + C )
P(x) = x4 + x3 – 7x2 –x + 6
By comparing the coefficients of:
x4 : A = 1 constant : C = -6
x3 : B = 1
Thus P( x ) = ( x – 1) ( x + 1 ) ( x2 + x – 6 )
P(x) = ( x –1 )( x + 1 )( x + 3 )( x – 2 )
x –1 ) ( x + 1 ) ( x + 3 ) ( x – 2 ) = 0
(

Roots are :
x = 1 , x = -1 , x = -3 and x = 2.
Example 8
Find all the roots of x3 + 3x2 + x – 1 = 0.

Solution:
Let P( x ) = x3 + 3x2 + x – 1

By inspection

P(-1) = -1 + 3 - 1 - 1
=0
 Hence (x + 1) is a factor of P( x ).
 P(x) = x3 + 3x2 + x – 1

= (x + 1)(Ax2 +Bx + C )
By comparing the coefficients ,

A = 1 , B = 2 and C = -1

 P( x ) = (x + 1)( x2 + 2x –1 )
 x3 + 3x2 + x – 1 = 0
b  b2  4ac
x
( x + 1 )( x2+ 2x –1 ) = 0 2a

x + 1 = 0 or x2 + 2x –1 = 0
2  8
x = -1 x 
2
2  2 2

2

 1 2
The roots are :

x = –1, x   1  2 and x   1  2
 CONCLUSION

The Remainder Theorem

• When a polynomial P(x) is divided by a

x - a , the remainder is P(a).

The Factor Theorem

If P(a) = 0, then (x – a) is a factor of P(x)

 If P(a) = 0, then a is called a zero of
polynomial P(x).

If P(a) = 0, then x = a is a root of a

polynomial equation P(x) = 0.

If x  a  b is a root of P(x) = 0, then

x  a b is also a root .