MATH 505 Advance Algebra and Trigonometry

Factor Theorem and Synthetic Division

JERMAR P. CARAEL
 Direction: Say DRUGS if the statement is correct then DEATH PENALTY
if it is not.

1. 2 x 2  8  0 , when x= -2 DRUGS

2. The number or expression you are DRUGS

dividing into is called the DIVISOR.
3. x-1 has one term. Death penalty
4. When 8x is divided into 4 the result is Drugs
2x.
5. i 2 times 1 is 1. Death penalty
 FACTOR
THEOREM
Proof: There are two parts of the proof of the Factor Theorem, namely:
Given a polynomial P(x),

1. If (x-r) is a factor of P(x), then P(r)=0.

2. If p(r) = 0, then (x-r) is a factor of P(x)

 example:
1. Show that x-1 is a factor of 3 x 3  8 x 2  3 x  2
Using factor Theorem, We have:
Solution:
P(1)  3(1)3  8(1) 2  3(1)  2
=3-8+3+2
=0
Since P(1) = 0, then x-1 is a factor of 3 x 3  8 x 2  3 x  2
 another example:
2. Find the value of k for which the binomial (x+4) is
a factor of x 4  kx3  4 x 2 .
Solution:
If (x+4) is a factor of P(x) = x 4
 kx3
 4 x 2
,
We know from the Factor Theorem that P(-4) = 0
P(4)  (4) 4  k (4)3  4(4) 2  0
256  64k  64  0
64k 192

64 64
k 3
3. Use the factor theorem to factorize: x 2  2 x  3.
Let f(x) = x 2
 2x  3
If x = 1, f(x) = 1 + 2 – 3 = 0 hence, (x – 1) is a factor
x = 2, f(x) = 4 + 4 – 3 = 5
x = 3, f(x) = 9 + 6 – 3 = 12
x = –1, f(x) = 1 – 2 – 3 = –4
x = –2, f(x) = 4 – 4 – 3 = – 3
x = –3, f(x) = 9 – 6 – 3 = 0 hence, (x + 3) is a factor

Thus, x 2  2 x  3  ( x  1)( x  3)
4. Use the factor theorem to factorize: x3  x 2  4 x  4
Let f(x) = x3  x 2  4 x  4

If x = 1, f(x) = 1 + 1 – 4 – 4 = –6
x = 2, f(x) = 8 + 4 – 8 – 4 = 0 hence, (x – 2) is a factor
x = 3, f(x) = 27 + 9 – 12 – 4 = 20
x = –1, f(x) = –1 + 1 + 4 – 4 = 0 hence, (x + 1) is a factor
x = –2, f(x) = –8 + 4 + 8 – 4 = 0 hence, (x + 2) is a factor

Thus, x 3  x 2  4 x  4  ( x  2)( x  1)( x  2)

5. Use the factor theorem to factorize: 2 x 3  5 x 2  4 x  7

Let f(x) = 2 x3  5x 2  4 x  7

If x = 1, f(x) = 2 + 5 – 4 – 7 = –4
x = 2, f(x) = 16 + 20 – 8 – 7 = 21
x = 3, f(x) = 45 + 12 – 7 = 50
x = –1, f(x) = –2 + 5 + 4 – 7 = 0 hence, (x + 1) is a factor
x = –2, f(x) = –16 + 20 + 8 – 7 = 5
x = –3, f(x) = –54 + 45 + 12 – 7 = –4

Since the first term dominates, there are no further factors,

 Using Long Division
2 x3
3x 2
x
x  7x
x

3 x ( x  1)
 7( x  1)

Thus, 2 x 3  5 x 2  4 x  7  ( x  1)( 2 x 2  3x  7)
6. Use the factor theorem to factorize: 2 x 3  x 2  16 x  15

Let f(x) = 2 x 3  x 2  16 x  15

If x = 1, f(x) = 2 – 1 – 16 + 15 = 0 hence, (x – 1) is a factor

x = 2, f(x) = 16 – 4 – 32 + 15 = –5
x = 3, f(x) = 54 – 9 – 48 + 15 = 12
x = –1, f(x) = –1 – 1 + 16 + 15 = 29
x = –2, f(x) = –16 – 4 + 32 + 15 = 27
x = –3, f(x) = –54 – 9 + 48 + 15 = 0 hence, (x + 3) is a factor

2 x 3  x 2  16 x  15 2 x3  x 2  16 x  15

( x  1)( x  3) x2  2x  3
 Using Long Division
2 x3
2  5x 2
x
x2

2 x( x 2  2 x  3)

 5( x 2  2 x  3)

Thus, 2 x3  x 2  16 x  15  ( x  1)( x  3)(2 x  5)

 Another example of Long
Division
Factor x3  2 x 2  23x  60; x  4
 Synthetic division

Step 1.Write the Polynomial in DESCENDING ORDER by degree and write any ZERO
coefficients for missing degree terms in order.

Step 2. Solve the Binomial Divisor = Zero

Write the ZERO-value, then all the COEFFICIENTS of Polynomial.

 (5x3  13x 2  10 x  8)  ( x  2)

SYNTHETIC DIVISION:
STEP #1: Write the Polynomial in DESCENDING ORDER
by degree and write any ZERO coefficients for missing
degree terms in order
Polynomial Descending Order : 5 x 3  13 x 2  10 x  8
STEP #2: Solve the Binomial Divisor = Zero
x  2  0; x  2
STEP #3: Write the ZERO-value, then all the
COEFFICIENTS of Polynomial.

Zero = 2 5 -13 10 -8 = Coefficients

STEP #4 (Repeat):
(1) ADD Down, (2) MULTIPLY, (3) Product Next Column
 SYNTHETIC DIVISION: Continued
Zero = 2 5 -13 10 -8 = Coefficients
10 -6 8
5 -3 4 0 = Remainder
STEP #5: Last Answer is your REMAINDER

STEP #6: POLYNOMIAL DIVISION QUOTIENT

Write the coefficient “answers” in descending order starting with a Degree ONE LESS
THAN Original Degree and include NONZERO REMAINDER OVER DIVISOR at
end
5 -3 4 5x  3x  4
2
Quotient

(5 x  13 x  10 x  8)  ( x  2)  5 x  3 x  4
3 2 2
 Another example of Synthetic
Division 4
f ( x )  x  x  3 x  1;
2
k  4

Solution: Remember to use 0 as coefficient

for the missing x3-term in the synthetic division.

Proposed
zero 4 1 0 1 3 1
4 16  68 284
1  4 17  71 285 Remainder
The remainder is not 0, so – 4 is not a zero of
(x) = x4 +x2 – 3x + 1. In fact, (– 4) = 285, indicating that
(– 4, 285) is on the graph of (x).
 Another example of Synthetic Division

f ( x )  x  2 x  4 x  2 x  5;
4 3 2
k  1  2i
Since the remainder is 0, 1 + 2i is a zero of the given
polynomial function. Notice that 1 + 2i is not a real
number zero. Therefore, it would not appear as an
x-intercept in the graph of (x).
1  2i 1  2 4 2 5
1  2i  5  1  2i 5
(1  2i )( 1  2i )
 1  4i 2 1  1  2i  1 1  2i 0
 5
Remainder
 Challenge
Find k so that the quotient has a 0 remainder.
x 3  kx2  34 x  56
x7
SOLUTION:
Because x + 7, c = −7. Set up the synthetic division as follows. Then
follow the synthetic division procedure
The End!