LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, students should

be able to:
use the remainder and factor theorems.

Consider

7 x 2 6 x 2 x 2

x 2 5x 4
x 2 x3 7 x 2 6 x 2

The remainder may be

x3 2 x 2

obtained by long division

5x 2 6 x

as follows

5 x 2 10 x
4x 2
4x 8
10

7 x 6 x 2 x 5x 4 x 2 10
2

Alternatively,

7 x 6 x 2 x 2
2

Let Px x 7 x 6 x 2
3

Let

x2 0

x2

Remainder P2

2 72 62 2
3

10

DEFINITION
When a polynomial P(x)

Remainder
Theorem

is divided by a linear
factor (x-a), then the
remainder is P(a)
Proof:

P(x) = D(x) Q(x) + R(x)

P(x) = (x-a) Q(x) + R(x)

When x= a;
P(a) = 0 + R(x)
= R(x)

EXAMPLE

By using remainder theorem, find the

remainder when Px x 2 x 6 is
3

divided by x 3

SOLUTION

Let

x3 0

x 3

By remainder theorem
Remainder P 3

3 2 3 6
3

39

YOUR TURN!!
Using remainder theorem, find the remainder for

the following
3
2

P
x

7
x
3x 1
i.

ii. Px x 2 2 x 1
iv. Px 3 5x

x 2

iii. Px 2 x 2 3x 2

x 2
x 1
;

EXAMPLE

When a polynomial P(x) = x3 + px2 + qx -9

is divided by x+1, the remainder is 3 and

when P(x) is divided by x-2, the remainder is
9. Find the value of p and q.

EXAMPLE

When x kx 5x 6 x 8 is divided by
4

(x + 2), the remainder is 16. Determine k.

SOLUTION
Let P( x) x 4 kx3 5x 2 6 x 8
Given that

P(2) 16

(2) 4 k (2)3 5(2) 2 6(2) 8 16

8k 24

k 3

EXERCISE
a)

Given that P( x) 2 x3 ax 2 6 x 1.
When P(x) is divided by x 2 , the
remainder is twice of the remainder
when P(x) is divided by x 1 . Find a .

EXAMPLE

By using remainder theorem, find the

remainder when Px 6 x 7 x 2 is
2

divided by 2 x 1

If the remainder

obtained from dividing the

polynomial P(x) by (x-a) is zero, then the linear term

(x-a) is called a factor of the polynomial P(x).
If P(a) = 0 then (x a) is a factor of P(x)

Proof:
If (x-a) is a factor of P(x),
then P(x) = (x-a).Q(x)

When x=a,
P(a) = (a-a) Q(x)=0

 a is called a zero of P(x), or a root of the

equation P(x)=0.
For example, if
P(x) = x2 + x 6,
Then, P(2)=0 and P(-3)=0
The values 2 and -3 are the zeros of P(x) and
x=2 and x=-3 are the roots of the equation
P(x)=0.

EXAMPLE
Show that (x-2) is a factor of x3 4x2 +3x +2.
SOLUTION
Let P(x) = x3 4x2 +3x +2
P(2) = (2)3 4(2)2 +3(2) +2
= 8 -16 +6 +2
=0
(x-2) is a factor of x3 4x2 +3x +2

EXAMPLE

Determine whether the following linear functions are

factors of the given polynomials:
(a) P(x) = 3 7x + 5x2- x3

; (x 3)

(b) P(x) = 2x3+ 3x2- 8x + 3

; (2x 1)

(c) P(x) = x4- 2x3+ 3x 6

;(x + 1)

P x x3 x2 2x
Linear factors of
P(x)

trial and error

long division

substitute integer first

eg: 0, -1, 1

comparison

if one of the factor given

P x x x 2x
3

x x 1 (x 2)

EXAMPLE

Factorize x3 + 2x2 -5 x - 6 completely by

using factor theorem.

SOLUTION
Let P(x)= x3 + 2x2 -5 x - 6. By trial and error find
one of the zeros of P(x).

Based on the constant terms in P(x), the possible

zeros of P(x) are 1, 2, 3.

Try x=1,
P(1) = (1)3 + 2(1)2 -5 (1) - 6
= -8
0
(x-1) is not a factor of P(x)

Try x=-1,
P(-1) = (-1)3 + 2(-1)2 -5 (-1) - 6
=0
(x+1) is a factor of P(x) ,

The other factors can be found by perform a

long division.

x2 x 6
x 1 x3 2x 2 5x 6
(x 3 x2 )
x2 5x
(x 2 x)
6x 6
( 6x 6)
0

 x3 + 2x2 -5 x - 6 = (x +1)(x2 + x - 6)
= (x+1)(x - 2)(x + 3)

PRACTICE
Factorize completely by using factor theorem.
i. a3 - b3
ii. a3 + b3

EXERCISE
If (x+1) and (x-3) are the factors for

x4 x3 -7x2 +px +q, find the value for p

and q. Hence, use the value of p and
q to find another two factors of the
polynomial.