CBSE CLASS X Mathematics

GCD And LCM of Polynomials

Two mark questions with answers

Q1. Find G.C.D of 36x2 - 49 and 6x2 - 25x + 21.
Ans1. p(x) = 36x2 - 49 = (6x)2 - (7)2
= (6x - 7) (6x + 7)
g(x) = 6x2 - 25x + 21
= 6x2 - 18x - 7x + 21
= 6x(x - 3) -7(x - 3)
= (6x - 7) (x - 3)
G.C.D = (6x - 7).
Q2. Find the L.C.M of 4x2 - 16 and 2(x2 + x - 6).
Ans2. p(x) = 4x2 - 16 = 4(x2 - 4)
= 4{(x)2 - (2)2} = 4 (x - 2) (x + 2)
= 2.2(x - 2) (x + 2)
q(x) = 2(x2 + x - 6)
= 2(x + 3) (x - 2)
L.C.M = 2(x - 2) x 2 x (x + 2) (x + 3)
= 4 (x - 2) (x + 2) (x + 3).
Q3. Find the G.C.D of 30x2 + 13x - 3 and 25x2 - 30x + 9.
Ans3. p(x) = 30x2 + 13x - 3
= 30x2 + 18x - 5x - 3
= 6x(5x + 3) - (5x + 3)
= (6x - 1) (5x + 3)
g(x) = 25x2 + 30x + 9
= (5x2 + 2(5x) (3) + (3)2
= (5x + 3)2
G.C.D = (5x + 3).
Q4. Find the G.C.D of 8(x4 - 16) and 12(x3 - 8).
Ans4. p(x) = 8(x4 - 16) = 8{(x2)2 - (4)2}
= 8(x2 - 4) (x2 + 4)
= 8(x2 - 22) (x2 + 4)
= 8(x - 2) (x + 2) (x2 + 4)
= 23 (x - 2) (x + 2) (x2 + 4)
g(x) = 12 (x3 - 8)
= 12(x3 - 23) = 12(x - 2) (x2 + 2x + 4)
= 22.3.(x - 2) (x2 + 2x + 4)
G.C.D = 22 x (x - 2) = 4(x - 2)

Four mark questions with answers

Q1. If (x - 2) is the H.C.F. of (ax2 + bx + c) and (bx2 + ax + c), then find the value
of c in terms of a and b.

Ans1. Let p(x) = ax2 + bx + c and q(x) = bx2 + ax + c

As (x - 2) is the H.C.F of p(x) = ax2 + bx + c.
and q(x) = bx2 + ax + c.
(x - 2) is a factor of p(x) and q(x).
Then by factor theorem,
p(2) = 0 and q(2) = 0
a(2)2 + b(2) + c = 0 and b(2)2 + a(2) + c = 0
4a + 2b + c = 0..............(1)
and 4b + 2a + c = 0................(2)
Adding (1) and (2)
we get,
6a + 6b + 2c = 0
3a + 3b + c = 0
c = -3a -3b
c = -3(a + b).
Q2. If (x + k) is the g.c.d. of (x2 + ax + b) and (x2 + cx + d), then find the value of
k.
Ans2. Let p(x) = x2 + ax + b and q(x) = x2 + cx + d
(x + k) is the g.c.d. of p(x) and q(x).
(x + k) is a factor of p(x) and q(x)
p(-k) = 0 and q(-k) = 0
(-k)2 + a(-k) + b = 0 and (-k)2 + c(-k) + d = 0
k2 - ak + b = 0..........(i)
and k2 - ck + d = 0..........(ii)
From (i) and (ii)
k2 - ak + b = k2 - ck + d
-ak + ck = d - b
-k(a - c) = -(b - d)
k = (b - d)/(a - c).
Q3. Find the L.C.M. of (x2 - y2 - 2yz - z2), (x2 - y2 + 2xz + z2) and (x2 - 2xy + y2 - z2).
Ans3. P = x2 - y2 - 2yz - z2
= x2 - (y2 + 2yz + z2) = x2 - (y + z)2
= (x + y + z) (x - y - z)
Q = x2 - y2 + 2xz + z2 = x2 + 2xz + z2 - y2
= (x + z)2 - y2
= (x + z + y) (x + z - y)
= (x + y + z) (x - y + z)
and R = x2 - 2xy + y2 - z2
= (x - y)2 - z2
= (x - y + z) (x - y - z)
L.C.M. = (x + y + z) (x - y + z) (x - y - z).
Q4. The G.C.D. and L.C.M. of two polynomials are (x + y) and (3x5 + 5x4y + 2x3y2 3x2y3 - 5xy4 - 2y5) respectively. If one of the polynomials is (x2 - y2), then find the
other polynomial.
Ans4. II polynomial = (G.C.D. x L.C.M.)/I polynomial.

= (3x5 + 5x4y + 2x3y2 - 3x2y3 - 5xy4 - 2y5)/(x - y)

Then by actual division, the II polynomial is,

= (3x4 + 8x3y + 10x2y2 + 7xy3 + 2y4).
Q5. Find the H.C.F. of (4x3 + 3x2y - 9xy2 + 2y3) and (x2 + xy - 2y2), using successive
division method.
Ans5. Using successive division method,

H.C.F. = x2 + xy - 2y2.

Six mark questions with answers

Q1. The L.C.M. of the two polynomial is 6x4 - 11x3 - 17x2 + 46x - 24 and their g.c.d
is 6x2 - 17x + 12. One of the polynomials is 6x3 - 5x2 - 22x + 24. Find the other
polynomial.
Ans1. We know that
q(x) =

Now, we know that L.C.M is exactly divisible by p(x), then by actual division.

q(x) = (6x2 - 17x + 12) (x - 1)

= 6x3 - 17 x2 + 12x - 6x2 + 17x - 12

= 6x3 - 23x2 + 29x - 12.
Hence the other polynomial is 6x3 - 23x2 + 29x - 12.
Q2. Determine the H.C.F of (x2 + 5x + 6), (x2 + 7x + 12)
and (x2 + x - 6). Also verify that the L.C.M of the three polynomials is the product of
the three polynomials divided
by the square of the H.C.F.
Ans2. (i) Let p(x) = x2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2) (x + 3)
q(x) = x2 + 7x + 12 = (x + 3) (x + 4)
and r(x) = x2 + x - 6 = (x - 2) (x + 3)

 H.C.F of p(x), q()x( and r(x) is = (x + 3)

(ii) Verification : L.C.M of p(x), q(x) and r(x) is = (x + 3)
L.H.S. = L.C.M of p(x). q(x) & r(x)
= (x + 3) (x + 2) (x + 4) (x - 2)....................(1)

= (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) (x - 2)..........................(2)
from (1) and (2)
L.H.S. = R.H.S.
Q3. Find H.C.F. and L.C.M. of the polynomials (6x2 - x - 12),
(6x2 - 13x + 6) and (2x2 + 5x - 12).
Ans3. p(x) = 6x2 - x - 12
= 6x2 - 9x + 8x - 12
= 3x(2x - 3) + 4(2x - 3)
= (2x - 3)(3x + 4)
q(x) = 6x2 - 13x + 6
= 6x2 - 9x - 4x + 6
= 3x(2x - 3) - 2(2x - 3)
= (2x - 3)(3x - 2)
r(x) = 2x2 + 5x - 12
= 2x2 + 8x - 3x - 12
= 2x(x + 4) - 3(x + 4)
= (x + 4) (2x - 3)
H.C.F. of p(x), q(x) and r(x) is = (2x - 3)

= (2x - 3) (3x + 4) (3x - 2) (x + 4).