Polynomial

Functions

ENGR CJM PINEDA

Long Division and Synthetic Division

Example

Use the long division method to divide

by
x 4.

Solution

Divide leading terms:

Multiply:

Subtract and bring down 12

Then repeat the process using

the last line as dividend

Divide leading terms:

Multiply:

Subtract and bring down 4

Quotient

Dividend

Divisor

Remainder

Solve using synthetic

division

Solution

write only the coefficient

bring down 6

multiply: (6)(4)=24
add -26+24=-2

Solve using synthetic

division

Solution

quotient

remainder

Long Division and Synthetic Division

Example

Use synthetic division to divide

by x + 2.
Example 3
Divide:

Remainder Theorem
(x + 2) has no remainder.
What does this imply?

In example 2,

(x + 2) is a factor of

Consider the function

Is there a remainder when we divide P(x) by
d(x)?
This shows that (x + 3) is not a factor of P(x).
Evaluate P(-3).
What do you observe?

Remainder and Factor Theorems

As a consequence of the Remainder Theorem,

when P(x) is divided by (x c) and the remainder is
0, P(c) = 0, and c is a zero of the polynomial. Thus,
we have the Factor Theorem

Remainder and Factor Theorems

Example 4
Use the remainder theorem to find p(-5) for
Example 5
Use the factor theorem to determine if (a) x
2, (b) x + 1 are factors of

Finding Zeros of a Polynomial

Example 6
Given that 2 is a zero, use the factor
theorem to help find all other zeros.

Zeros of a Polynomial
The zeros of a polynomial f(x) are the
solutions of the equation f(x) = 0. Each real
zero is an x-intercept of the graph of f.

Linear Factorization Theorem

In other words, every complex polynomial of

degree n can be rewritten as the product of
a nonzero constant and exactly n linear
factors.

Linear Factorization Theorem

Example 7
Rewrite as a product of linear factors, and
find its zeros.
Example 8
Factor the given function completely,
writing repeated factors in exponential
form. Then state the multiplicity of each
zero.

Problem Set 18
Divide

using synthetic division.

Use the remainder theorem to evaluate P(x) as

given.
a. P(-2)
b. P(3)
Use the factor theorem to determine if the factors
given are factors of f(x).
a. (x 2)
b. (x + 4)
Factor each polynomial completely and find the
zeros of the polynomial