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Remainder Theorem

The document provides examples and explanations of dividing polynomials using long division and synthetic division. It introduces the Remainder Theorem, which states that when a polynomial P(x) is divided by x - c, the remainder is the value of P(c). It also introduces the Factor Theorem, which states that c is a zero of the polynomial P(x) if and only if x - c is a factor of P(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate using these theorems to find quotients, remainders, zeros of polynomials, and to factor polynomials.

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Joseph Superable
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164 views

Remainder Theorem

The document provides examples and explanations of dividing polynomials using long division and synthetic division. It introduces the Remainder Theorem, which states that when a polynomial P(x) is divided by x - c, the remainder is the value of P(c). It also introduces the Factor Theorem, which states that c is a zero of the polynomial P(x) if and only if x - c is a factor of P(x). Examples are provided to demonstrate using these theorems to find quotients, remainders, zeros of polynomials, and to factor polynomials.

Uploaded by

Joseph Superable
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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College Algebra

4 Polynomial and
Rational Functions
4.3 Dividing Polynomials
The Remainder Theorem
Long Division of Polynomials
Long Division of Polynomials

Dividing polynomials is much like the


familiar process of dividing numbers.

• When we divide 38 by 7, the quotient is 5


and the remainder is 3.
• We write: 38 3
5
7 7
• To divide polynomials, we use long division—as
in the next example.
E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

Divide 6x2 – 26x + 12 by x – 4.

• The dividend is 6x2 – 26x + 12 and


the divisor is x – 4.

• We begin by arranging them as follows:

x  4 6x 2  26x  12
E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

Next, we divide the leading term in the


dividend by the leading term in the divisor to
get the first term of the quotient:
6x2/x = 6x

6x
x  4 6 x 2  26 x  12
E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

Then, we multiply the divisor by 6x and


subtract the result from the dividend.

6x
x  4 6 x 2  26 x  12
6 x 2  24 x
 2x  12
E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

We repeat the process using the last


line –2x + 12 as the dividend.

6x  2
x  4 6 x  26 x  12
2

6 x  24 x
2

 2 x  12
2 x  8
4 Remainder
4 6 26 12
24 -8
_____________
6 -2 4 Remainder
E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

The division process ends when the last


line is of lesser degree than the divisor.

• The last line then contains the remainder.

• The top line contains the quotient.


E.g. 1—Long Division of Polynomials

The result of the division can be


interpreted in either of two ways.

6 x 2  26 x  12 4
•  6x  2 
x4 x4

• 6 x 2  26 x  12  ( x  4)(6 x  2)  4
Long Division of Polynomials

We summarize the long


division process in the following
theorem.
Division Algorithm

If P(x) and D(x) are polynomials, with


D(x) ≠ 0, then there exist unique polynomials
Q(x) and R(x), where R(x) is either 0 or of
degree less than the degree of D(x),
such that:
P(x) = D(x) . Q(x) + R(x)

• The polynomials P(x) and D(x) are called


the dividend and divisor, respectively.
• Q(x) is the quotient and R(x) is the remainder.
E.g. 2—Long Division of Polynomials

Let
P(x) = 8x4 + 6x2 – 3x + 1
and D(x) = 2x2 – x + 2

Find polynomials Q(x) and R(x)


such that:
P(x) = D(x) · Q(x) + R(x)
E.g. 2—Long Division of Polynomials

We use long division after first inserting


the term 0x3 into the dividend to ensure that
the columns line up correctly.
4 x 2  2x
2x 2  x  2 8 x 4  0 x 3  6 x 2  3 x  1
8x 4  4x 3  8x 2
4 x 3  2x 2  3 x
4 x 3  2x 2  4 x
7 x  1
• The process is complete at this point as –7x + 1 is
of lesser degree than the divisor 2x2 – x + 2.
E.g. 2—Long Division of Polynomials

From the long division, we see that:

Q(x) = 4x2 + 2x and R(x) = –7x + 1

• Thus,
8x4 + 6x2 – 3x + 1
= (2x2 – x + 2)(4x2 + 2x)
+ (–7x + 1)
Synthetic Division
Synthetic Division

Synthetic division is a quick method


of dividing polynomials.

• It can be used when the divisor is of the form


x – c.

• In synthetic division, we write only the essential


parts of the long division.
Long Division vs. Synthetic Division

Compare the following long and synthetic


divisions, in which we divide 2x3 – 7x2 + 5
by x – 3.

• We’ll explain how to perform


the synthetic division in Example 3.
Long Division vs. Synthetic Division

2x 2  x  3 32 7 0 5
x  3 2x  7 x  0 x  5
3 2
6 3 9
2x 3  6 x 2 2 1  3 4
 x 2  0x Quotient
Remainder

x  3x
2

3 x  5
3 x  9
4
Synthetic Division

Note that, in synthetic division, we:

• Abbreviate 2x3 – 7x2 + 5 by writing only


the coefficients: 2, –7, 0, and 5.

• Simply write 3 instead of x – 3.

(Writing 3 instead of –3 allows us to add instead


of subtract. However, this changes the sign of all
the numbers that appear in the gold boxes.)
E.g. 3—Synthetic Division

Use synthetic division to divide


2x3 – 7x2 + 5 by x – 3.

• We begin by writing the appropriate coefficients


to represent the divisor and the dividend.

32 7 0 5
E.g. 3—Synthetic Division

We bring down the 2, multiply 3 · 2 = 6,


and write the result in the middle row.

Then, we add:

32 7 0 5
6
2 1
E.g. 3—Synthetic Division

We repeat this process of


multiplying and then adding until
the table is complete.

32 7 0 5
6 3
2 1 3
E.g. 3—Synthetic Division

32 7 0 5
6 3 9
2 1 3 4

• From the last line, we see that the quotient


is 2x2 – x – 3 and the remainder is –4.
• Thus,
2x3 – 7x2 + 5 = (x – 3)(2x2 – x – 3) – 4.
The Remainder
and Factor Theorems
Remainder Theorem
The remainder theorem
Remainder Theorem—Proof

If the divisor in the Division Algorithm is


of the form x – c for some real number c,
then the remainder must be a constant.

• This is because the degree of the remainder


is less than the degree of the divisor.
Remainder Theorem—Proof

If we call this constant r, then


P(x) = (x – c) · Q(x) + r

• Setting x = c in this equation, we get:

P(c) = (c – c) · Q(x) + r
=0+r
=r

• That is, P(c) is the remainder r.


E.g. 4—Using the Remainder Theorem

Let
P(x) = 3x5 + 5x4 – 4x3 + 7x + 3

(a) Find the quotient and remainder when


P(x) is divided by x + 2.

(b) Use the Remainder Theorem to find P(–2).


E.g. 4—Using Remainder Theorem Example (a)

As x + 2 = x – (–2) , the synthetic division


for the problem takes the following form.

2 3 5 4 0 7 3
6 2 4 8 2
3 1 2 4 1 5

• The quotient is 3x4 – x3 – 2x2 + 4x – 1.


• The remainder is 5.
E.g. 4—Using Remainder Theorem Example (b)

By the Remainder Theorem,


P(–2) is the remainder when P(x)
is divided by x – (–2) = x + 2.

• From part (a), the remainder is 5.

• Hence, P(–2) = 5.
Factor Theorem

The Factor Theorem says that zeros


of polynomials correspond to factors.
• We used this fact in Section 4.2 to graph
polynomials.

c is a zero of P if and only if x – c


is a factor of P(x).
Factor Theorem—Proof

If P(x) factors as P(x) = (x – c) · Q(x),


then
P(c) = (c – c) · Q(c)
= 0 · Q(c)
=0
Factor Theorem—Proof

Conversely, if P(c) = 0, then, by


the Remainder Theorem,

P(x) = (x – c) · Q(x) + 0
= (x – c) · Q(x)

• So, x – c is a factor of P(x).


E.g. 5—Factoring a Polynomial Using Factor Theorem

Let
P(x) – x3 – 7x + 6

• Show that P(1) = 0.

• Use this fact to factor P(x) completely.


E.g. 5—Factoring a Polynomial Using Factor Theorem

Substituting, we see that:

P(1) = 13 – 7 · 1 + 6
=0

• By the Factor Theorem, this means that


x – 1 is a factor of P(x).
E.g. 5—Factoring a Polynomial Using Factor Theorem

Using synthetic or long division,


we see that:
P(x) = x3 – 7x + 6
= (x – 1)(x2 + x – 6)
= (x – 1)(x – 2)(x + 3)
E.g. 6—Finding a Polynomial with Specified Zeros

Find a polynomial of degree 4 that has


zeros –3, 0, 1, and 5.

• By the Factor Theorem,


x – (–3), x – 0, x – 1, and x – 5
must all be factors of the desired polynomial.
• So, let:
P(x) = (x + 3)(x – 0) (x – 1)(x – 5)
= x4 – 3x3 – 13x2 + 15x
E.g. 6—Finding a Polynomial with Specified Zeros

Since P(x) is of degree 4, it is a solution


of the problem.

• Any other solution of the problem must be


a constant multiple of P(x).

• This is because only multiplication by a constant


does not change the degree.
Finding a Polynomial with Specified Zeros

The polynomial P of Example 6 is


graphed here.

• Note that the zeros


of P correspond to
the x-intercepts
of the graph.

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