Remainder and Factor Theorem

(1) Intro to Polynomials -degree -identities -division (long, short, synthetic) (2) Remainder Theorem -finding remainders -special case Factor Theorem -factorise & solve cubic equations

Intro to Polynomials

Terms Degree

Coefficient

Constant Value

Intro to Polynomials
Simple Intro to Polynomials http://www.glencoe.com/sec/math/algebra/algebra1/algebra1_05/ brainpops/index.php4/na More detailed Intro to Polynomials http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18OFfTyic7g

Long Division of Polynomials

Simple Example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6_ghhd7kwQ
More difficult example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTRDPB1wR5Y

Long Division of Polynomials

Example 1:

62 3
Dividend Divisor Quotient

In this case, the division is exact and

Dividend = Divisor x Quotient

Long Division of Polynomials

Example 2: The number 7 when divided by 2 will not give an exact answer. We say that the division is not exact. [7 = (2 x 3) + remainder 1 ]
In this case, when the division is NOT exact,

Dividend = Divisor x Quotient + Remainder

 Definition of degree: For any algebraic expression, the highest power of the unknown determines the degree.

Algebraic Expression 2x + 1
x3 - 5x -3x2 + x + 4

Degree
1 3 2

For division of polynomials, we will stop dividing until the degree of the expression left is smaller than the divisor.

Division by a Monomial
Divide: 12 x 8 x 5 x 6 x 5 2 x
5 4 2 2

12 x 8 x 5 x 6 x 5 Rewrite: 2 2x Divide each term separately:

5 4 2

12 x 5 8 x 4 5 x 2 6 x 5 2 2 2 2 2 2x 2x 2x 2x 2x

5 3 5 6x 4x 2 2 x 2x
3 2

Division by a Binomial
Divide:
Divide using long division

10 x

17 x x 1 5 x 1
3

5 x 1 10 x 17 x 0 x x 1
4 3 2

Insert a place holder for the missing term x 2

Division of Polynomials
Division of polynomials is similar to a division sum using numbers.
Consider the division 10 2 = 5 Consider the division ( x2 + x ) ( x + 1 )

5 10 10 0
10 2 5

x
x 1
- x2
2

x ( x x)
0

x 2 x x( x 1)

3 2 4 2 Example 1: ( x 2 x x) ( x 1) Example 2: (2 x 6 x x) 2 x

x 1

x x
2

x 3x
3

1 2

x 2 x x - 3 2 (x x )
3 2

2 x 2 x 4 0 x3 6 x 2 x - 4
(2 x )

x x 2 ( x x)
2

0 6x2
(6 x ) 0 x
2

0
x3 2 x 2 x ( x 1)( x 2 x)

( x)

0
1 2 x 4 6 x 2 x 2 x( x 3 3x ) 2

 When the division is not exact, there will be a remainder.

Consider the division 7 2 Consider (2x3 + 2x2 + x) (x + 1) 2

3 7 6 1
remainder

2 x 1

x 1

2 x3 2 x 2 x

(2 x3 2 x 2 )

0 x ( x 1)
remainder

-1

7 (2 3) 1
7 1 3 2 2

(2 x3 2 x 2 x) ( x 1)( 2 x 2 1) 1
(2 x 3 2 x 2 x) 1 (2 x 2 1) ( x 1) x 1

Example 1: ( x 3 7 x 2 4 x) ( x 3)

x
x 3

4 x 16

( x3 3x 2 )
4 x2

x3 7 x 2 4 x
4x

Degree here is less than divisors degree, thus this is the remainder

Degree here is not smaller than divisors degree, thus continue dividing

( x 3 7 x 2 4 x) ( x 3)
48 ( x 4 x 16) x3
2

(4x2 12x)
16x

(16 x 48)

48

Example 2: (5x2

7 x 8) ( x 1)

5x 12
x 1
(5x 5x)
2

5x2 7 x 8
12 x 8
(12 x 12)
4

(5x 7 x 8) ( x 1)
2

Degree here is less than divisors degree, thus this is the remainder

4 (5x 12) x 1

Example 3:

(6x2 5x 1) (2x 1)
3x 1

2x 1
-

(6 x 3x)
2

6 x2 5x 1
2x 1
(2 x 1)
0

(6x2 5x 1) (2x 1)

3x 1

Short Division of Polynomials

Examples

2 x 3x 5 x 1 2 x 1 3 x 3 x 1
2 x 2 3x 5 x 2 1
2 2 2 2

3x 3 2 2 x 1

2 x3 3x 2 x 4 x2 2 x 5 2 x( x 2 2 x 5) 7( x 2 2 x 5) 3x 31 x2 2 x 5 3x 31 2x 7 2 x 2x 5

Synthetic Division of Polynomials

Preview Example: the link from long division to synthetic division
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/931-int-algebra-synthetic-divisionwith-polynomials Examples: how to perform synthetic division on linear divisors (and the link to remainder theorem) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZoMz1Cy1T4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nefo9cUo-wg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9ugZCc4rw
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jvjL9DtGC4 Extra: how to perform synthetic division on quadratic divisors

Remainder and Factor Theorem

Introduction to Remainder Theorem http://library.thinkquest.org/C0110248/algebra/remfactintro.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJd26kdLxWw

Remainder and Factor Theorem

Introduction to Factor Theorem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyPXqe-KEm4&feature=related Use of Factor Theorem to solve polynomial equations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXFlAj7zBzo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBjSW365pno&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qcCOry8FoQ&feature=related