The Remainder and Factor Theorems
The Remainder and Factor Theorems
The Remainder and Factor Theorems
Factor Theorems
The Remainder Theorem
•
The Remainder and Factor Theorems
• The remainder obtained in the synthetic division
process has an important interpretation, as
described in the Remainder Theorem.
f(x) = 5x2 – 4x + 3
f(3) = 5(3)2 – 4(3) + 3
f(3) = 5 ∙ 9 – 12 + 3
f(3) = 45 – 12 + 3
f(3) = 36
The Remainder Theorem
5x2 – 4x + 3
3 5 –4 3
15 33
5 11 36
The Remainder Theorem
f(x) = 5x2 – 4x + 3
5x2 – 4x + 3
f(3) = 5(3)2 – 4(3) + 3
3 5 –4 3
f(3) = 5 ∙ 9 – 12 + 3 15 33
5 11 36
f(3) = 45 – 12 + 3
f(3) = 36
Notice that the value obtained when evaluating the function at f(3) and the value
of the remainder when dividing the polynomial by x – 3 are the same.
4 2 –4 –7 –13 –10
8 16 36 92
2 4 9 23 82
The Factor Theorem
x3 + 4x2 – 15x – 18
x–3
3 1 4 –15 –18
Since the remainder is zero,
3 21 18 (x – 3) is a factor of
1 7 6 0 x3 + 4x2 – 15x – 18.
x3 + 4x2 – 15x – 18
x–3
The factors of
x2 + 7x + 6
(x + 6)(x + 1)
The Factor Theorem