POLYNOMIALS: ROOTS, ZEROS, FACTORS, AND DIVISION

ROOTS AND ZEROS OF POLYNOMIALS

When dividing two polynomials, the result is a quotient and the remainder. If the remainder is zero 0,
then the divisor is a factor of the dividend.

Example 1:

To show you how to divide polynomials using long division, we will use the polynomials x^3-9x-
〖3x〗^2+27 divided by x+3. Follow the steps below:

Arrange the polynomials descending powers of x and write the dividend in the standard form
and insert zero as the coefficient if there is a missing term.

(x^3-9x+〖3x〗^2+27)/(x+3)¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ----- x+3⟌(x^3-3x^2-9x+27) ̅

Divide the 1st term of the dividend by the 1st term of the divisor to get the first term of the
quotient.

x^2 x^3/x=x^2

x+3⟌(x^3-3x^2-9x+27) ̅

Multiply the divisor by the first term of the quotient.

x^2

x+3⟌(x^3-3x^2-9x+27) ̅

x^3+〖3x〗^2 (x+3)(x^2)
 Subtract the product from the dividend then bring down the next term.

Repeat steps 2 to 4. This time, the difference and the next term will be the new dividend.

x^2-6x

x+3⟌(x^3-3x^2-9x+27) ̅ 〖-6x〗^2/x=-6x

-(x^3+〖3x〗^2)

-〖6x〗^2-9x

-(-〖6x〗^2-18x) (x+3)(-6x)=-〖6x〗^2-18x

9x+27

Continue the process until a remainder is obtained. The remainder can be zero or a polynomial
whose exponent is lower than the divisor.

So the quotient of (x^3-9x+〖3x〗^2+27)/(x+3) is x^2-6x+9.

Example 2:

Find the quotient of 〖7x〗^3+16x^2+2x-1 divided by x+4.

DIVDING POLYNOMIALS USING SYNTHETIC DIVISION

There is a more efficient way of dividing polynomials if the divisor is a linear binomial in the form 𝑥 − 𝑎,.
This method is called synthetic division. A detailed discussion on how this synthetic division will be done
is given below. Just like long division, arrange the polynomials first in descending powers of 𝑥 and write
0 as coefficient of any missing term.
REMAINDER THEOREM

Example : Find the remainder when P(x)=x^4-〖3x〗^2-2x+5÷(x-3)

Solution: by the remainder theorem, P(3) is the remainder when P(x) is divided by x-3.

P(3)=〖(3)〗^4-〖3(3)〗^2-2(3)+5

=81-27-6+5

=53 The remainder is 53.

Example 1. Determine the whether x+2 is a factor of P(x) without actually dividing P(x)=〖3x〗^4+〖5x〗^3-
x^2+x-2

Solution: Using the factor theorem, you only need to show that P(-2)=0

P(-2)=〖3(-2)〗^4+〖5(-2)〗^3-(-2)^2+(-2)-2

=48-40-4-2-2

=0

Since P(-2)=0, we conclude that x+2 is a factor of 〖3x〗^4+〖5x〗^3-x^2+x-2.

That is 〖3x〗^4+〖5x〗^3-x^2+x-2= (x+2)( 〖3x〗^3-x^2+x-1)

Example 2. Find k so that x+3 is a factor of 〖P(x)=x〗^3-〖2x〗^2-kx+12.

Solution: By the factor theorem, if x+3 is a factor of P(x), then P(-3)=0.

〖P(-3)=(-3)〗^3-〖2(-3)〗^2-k(-3)+12
Solving for k, =-27-18+3k+12=0

3k-33=0

3k=33

k=11 Thus, x+3 is a factor of x^3-〖2x〗^2-

RATIONAL ROOTS THEOREM

Solution: The possible divisors of 10, the constant term, are c = -10, -5, -2, 1, 1,2,5, or 10.

The possible divisors of 1, the coefficient of 𝑥3, are d =-1, or 1. Hence, the possible
rational roots of the equation are C/d= -10,-5,-2,-1,1,2,5,or 10

Check these values for a zero of P(x) = 𝑥3- 6𝑥2 +3x + 10.

P(-10) = (-10)3 – 6(-10)2 + 3(-10) + 10 = -1620

P(-5) = (-5)3 – 6(-5)2 + 3(-5) + 10 = -280

P(-2) = (-2)3 – 6(-2)2 + 3(-2) + 10 = -28

P(-1) = (-1)3 – 6(-1)2 + 3(-1) + 10 = 0

Since P(-1) is a zero, (x+1) is a factor of the polynomial. Divide the polynomial by (x+1).

1 -7 10 0

The other factor is 𝑥2- 7𝑥 + 10, we obtain the complete factors of P(x).

P(x) = (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟓)(𝒙 − 𝟐)

Using the principle Zero Products, we obtain the roots of the polynomial equation.

x +1= 0 x–5=0 x–2=0

x=-1 x=5 x=2

The roots of P(x) = 𝑥3- 6𝑥2 +3x + 10= 0 are x = -1, 5 and 2.

Example 2: Solve 𝑥3+ 6𝑥2 +11x + 6= 0

Solution: The possible divisors of 6, the constant term c, and 1, the coefficient of the lending term d, are
as follows:

6: -1, 1, -2, 2, -3, 3, 6, -6

1: 1, -1

Thus, the possible values for c/d are:

-1, 1, -2, 2, -3, 3, 6, -6.

These are the same for the possibilities of c.

Thus, we need only to check -1, -2, -3, and -6 as possible roots.

P(-1) = (-1)3 +6(-1)2 + 11(-1) + 6 = 0

P(-2) = (-2)3 +6(-2)2 + 11(-2) + 6 = 0

P(-3) = (-3)3 +6(-3)2 + 11(-3) + 6 = 0

P(-6) = (-6)3 +6(-6)2 + 11(-3) + 6 = 0

The roots are -1, -2, and -3. Thus, 𝑥3+ 6𝑥2+ 11x+6= (x + 1)(x +2)(x+3).

Part 1

I. Determine whether the following numbers are roots of the polynomial equation P(x)=0.

A. P(x)=x^3+x^2-16x-6

1. 4 2. 2 3. -1

B. P(x)=〖3x〗^3+10x^2-x-12
 4. -2 5. -3

II. Determine whether the following numbers are zeros of the polynomial functions.

P(x)=x^3+x^2-16x-6

6. 2 7. 2i

P(x)=x^3+〖5x〗^2+4x-4

8. -2 9. 2 10. i

III. Find the quotient of the following polynomial using long division.

11. (〖2x〗^2+7x-39)÷(2x-7)

12. x^3-〖4x〗^2-2x+5÷(x-1)

IV. Find the quotient of the following polynomial using synthetic division.

13. (〖-7x-x〗^2+14+〖2x〗^3)÷(x+2) 14. . (x^5-36)÷(x-2)

15. 〖(6x〗^2+4x+x^3-7)÷(x+5)
V. Let P(x)=x^3-〖6x〗^2+5x+12

16. Determine whether x-4 is a factor of P(x).

17. Find another factor of P(x).

18. Find the complete factorization of P(x).

19. Solve the equation P(x)=0

20. Find k so that x+5 is a factor of x^3-〖5x〗^2-kx-20.

VI. Solve and identify the possible rational roots of the following polynomial using rational root theorem.

21. P(x)=x^3+8x^2+17x+10 22. P(x)=2x^3-15x^2+27x-10

Gladys C. Nireva, Ph.D. et. al.2018 Grade 10 Mathematics Patterns and Practicalities revised
edition, Antonio Rnaiz cor. Chino Roces Avenues, Makati, City, Salesiana Books by Don Bosco Press Inc.

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