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VCE Maths Methods Units 3&4 - Remainder and Factor Theorems

Worksheet with problems involving the application of remainder and factor theorems to solving and factorising polynomials. It also contains problems which use long division of a polynomial to aid in its factorisation.

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damon_cai
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104 views6 pages

VCE Maths Methods Units 3&4 - Remainder and Factor Theorems

Worksheet with problems involving the application of remainder and factor theorems to solving and factorising polynomials. It also contains problems which use long division of a polynomial to aid in its factorisation.

Uploaded by

damon_cai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 1 REMAINDER AND FACTOR THEOREMS

The Remainder Theorem states:


If a polynomial P(x) is divided by ax + b the remainder is

).

The Factor Theorem states:


ax + b is a factor of the polynomial P(x) if and only if

( )

Example 1. Is x 2 a factor of P(x) = 3x3 5x + 2?

Example 2. Find the remainder when P(x) = 3x3 + 2x2 + x + 1 is divided by 2x + 1.

Example 3. Given that x + 1 and x 2 are factors of 6x4 x3 + ax2 6x + b, find the values
of a and b.

EXAM FOCUS:
VCAA 2013 Exam 2:

LONG DIVISION OF POLYNOMIALS AND FACTORISATION


Long division is a useful technique, particularly for factorisation of polynomials by hand eg
on Exam 1.
Example 1.
Factorise x3 + 4x2 7x 10.

Exercise 1.
1. Factorise x3 7x + 6.

2. Divide 2x3 7x2 + 15x 3 by x 3.

3. Divide 5x5 + 13x4 2x2 6 by x + 1.

4. Find the value of k for which the expression x3 + (k 1)x2 + (k 9)x 7 has a remainder of
12 when divided by x 2.

5. The function f (x) = 2x3 + ax2 bx + 3 has a factor (x + 3). When f (x) is divided by (x 2),
the remainder is 15.
a) Calculate the values of a and b.
b) Find the other two factors of f (x).

6. The expression 4x3 + ax2 5x + b leaves remainders of 8 and 10 when divided by


(2x 3) and (x 3) respectively. Calculate the values of a and b.

7. The expressions px4 5x + q and x4 2x3 px2 qx 8 have a common factor x 2. Find
the values of p and q.

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