Date: 02/07/2021

Class: #1

Syllabus Type: Algebra

Title: Recap of Number Types, Polynomials, Factorization (Basic), Polynomial Division,

Remainder Theorem/Factor Theorem.

Recap of Number Types

𝑁 − {123. . . }

𝑊 − {0,1,2,3. . . }

𝑍 − {. . . −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3. . . }

𝑝
𝑄 − { } 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑝, 𝑞 ∈ 𝑍 , 𝑞 ≠ 0
𝑞

𝐼 − 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 ∩ 𝑥 ∉ 𝑄

Polynomials

• Polynomials are representations of numbers, variables, and exponents (integers)

separated by operators (+, −,×,÷)
• It is of the form:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + 𝑎2 𝑥 𝑛−2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎0 ≠ 0 and
N is a positive integer, called the degree of the polynomial.
• Some examples of polynomials:
1. 2𝑥 + 2 [linear equation]
2. 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 [quadratic equation]
3
3. 𝑥 + 3 [cubic equation]
Addition and Subtraction

• Coefficients can only add or subtract if their variables are the same.

Examples:
NOTE:
1. 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 In Example 1,
The coefficients (3 and 4) can be added
= 7𝑥
because both of their variables are x.

In Example 2,
The coefficients (3 and 4) cannot be
2. 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 added because their variables (𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 2 )
= 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 are different.

3. 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 3 + 2 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 EXAM TIP:
= 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 2 Group like terms together first and then
= 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 2 add or subtract.

NOTE:
𝑥 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 are NOT like terms so they
cannot be added or subtracted as such.

Multiplication and Division

• Coefficients can multiply or divide even if their variables are different.

Examples:

1. 3𝑥 × 4𝑥
= 12𝑥 2

2. 3𝑥 × 4𝑥 2
= 12𝑥 3

3. 9𝑥 2 ÷ 3𝑥
= 3𝑥
Factorization (Basic)

Methods:

1) Four terms/grouping
2) Difference of 2 squares
3) Wild up
4) Quadratic (will be discussed later on)

Examples: NOTE:
3x is common to both 3𝑥 and −6𝑥 2 so it can
1. Factorize 3𝑥 − 6𝑥 2 be factored
= 3𝑥(1 − 2𝑥)

2. 4a + 2a2 + 8ab
= 2a (2 + a + 4b)

Four terms

3. 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 − 2𝑎
= 2𝑥(𝑥 − 2) + 𝑎(𝑥 − 2)
= (2𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 − 2)

4. 2𝑎2 − 8𝑎 + 3𝑎𝑏 − 12𝑏

= 2𝑎(𝑎 − 4) + 3𝑏(𝑎 − 4)
= (2𝑎 + 3𝑏)(𝑎 − 4)

Difference of 2 squares
Difference of two squares:
5. 𝑥 2 − 4
(𝐴)2 − (𝐵)2 = (𝐴 − 𝐵)(𝐴 + 𝐵)
= (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)

6. 100 − 36𝑚2
= 4[25 − 9m2 ]
= 4(5 − 3𝑚)(5 + 3𝑚)

7. 9a2 − 324
= 9[a2 − 36]
= 9(a − 6)(a + 6)
 8. x 2 − 64
= (x + 8)(x − 8)

Wild Up
9. 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 4 − 12𝑎𝑥 3
= 3𝑥 2 (1 + 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑎𝑥)
Polynomial Division

• This is dividing one polynomial by another polynomial.

• Polynomial division is done using the long division method.
• The parts of a polynomial division are as follows:
Quotient
Divisor 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝

• The steps consist of Division, Multiplication and Subtraction which is repetitive

and in that order.
• Division: Only the variable (x) from the Divisor is divided by the first term in the
Dividend. The answer becomes the first term in the Quotient.
• Multiplication: This first quotient term is multiplied by the entire divisor (both
variable and constant)
• Subtraction: The result of this multiplication is subtracted from the dividend
with the respective variables. (Recall: only the coefficients of like terms can add
or subtract).
• The next term from the dividend is brought down.
• The steps of Division, Multiplication and Subtraction is repeated.

Example:
1. (2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2) ÷ (𝑥 + 1)

2𝑥 2 −3𝑥 +6 STEPS:
2𝑥 3
3 2 1. Divide: 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 2𝑥 3 or = 2𝑥 2
x+1 2𝑥 − 𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 2 𝑥
2. Multiply: 2𝑥 2 × (𝑥 + 1) = 2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2
2𝑥 3 +2𝑥 2 3. Subtract: (2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 ) − (2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 ) = −3𝑥 2
4. Bring down the 3x
−3𝑥 2 +3𝑥 5. Divide: 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 − 3𝑥 2 = −3𝑥
6. Multiply: −3𝑥 × (𝑥 + 1) = −3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥
−3𝑥 2 −3𝑥 7. Subtract: (−3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥) − (3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥) = 6𝑥
8. Bring down the +2
6x +2 9. Divide: 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 6𝑥 = +6
6x +6 10. Multiply: +6 × (𝑥 + 1) = 6𝑥 + 6
11. Subtract: (6𝑥 + 2) − (6𝑥 + 6) = −4
−4

−4
Therefore, the answer is: 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 6 + 𝒙+𝟏
 Note: The answer is simply NOT 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 6 remainder −4.
𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟
The remainder must be written as a fraction of the form: 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟
𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓
So the final answer must be in the form 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 + 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒓

2. (𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6) ÷ (𝑥 − 2)

𝑥2 −𝑥 STEPS:
𝑥3
3 2 1. Divide: 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑥 3 or = 𝑥2
𝑥−2 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 6 𝑥
2
2. Multiply: 𝑥 × (𝑥 − 2) = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
𝑥3 −2𝑥 2 3. Subtract: (𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 ) − (𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 ) = −𝑥 2
4. Bring down the 2x
−𝑥 2 +2𝑥 5. Divide: 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 − 𝑥 2 = −𝑥
6. Multiply: −𝑥 × (𝑥 − 2) = −𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
−𝑥 2 +2𝑥 7. Subtract: (−𝑥 2 + 2𝑥) − (−𝑥 2 + 2𝑥) = 0
8. Bring down the −6
−6

Therefore, the answer is

−6
𝑥2 − 𝑥 +
𝒙−𝟐

𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠

6
𝑥2 − 𝑥 −
𝒙−𝟐
3. (𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3) ÷ (𝑥 − 3)

𝑥3 +3𝑥 2 +8𝑥 +26

𝑥 − 3 𝑥4 − 0𝑥 3 − 𝑥2 + 2𝑥 −3 EXAM TIP:
Write in ALL the powers in
𝑥4 −3𝑥 3
descending order.
+3𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 Do not skip any in between
(You can put it in and put the
3𝑥 3 −9𝑥 2 coefficient as zero if the
question does not have any
8𝑥 2 +2𝑥 value for it).

8𝑥 2 −24𝑥

26𝑥 −3
26x −78

+75
Remainder Theorem (also called Factor Theorem)

• Remainder Theorem is a “short cut” method of dividing polynomials.

• The Steps involved are as follows:
1. The Divisor is equated to zero (𝐸𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒: 𝑥 + 1 = 0)
2. The variable (in this case, x) is solved for. (So, 𝑥 = −1).
3. This is now substituted into f(x). In other words, all the ‘x’ variables are
substituted with −1. This is also referred to as 𝑓(−1).
4. If a remainder of zero is obtained for 𝑓(−1), then this means that the Divisor
is a factor of the Dividend since it can divide completely and leave no
remainder.
If a remainder other than zero is obtained, then this means that the Divisor is
NOT a factor of the Dividend since it cannot divide completely.

NOTE:

Example: 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 = 0, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ≠ 0, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6
What is the remainder when 𝑓(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥 − 2?

Here, the divisor is 𝑥 − 2.

So,
𝑥−2=0
𝑥 = +2

Substitute 𝑥 = 2 into f(x). This is also written as 𝑓(2).

𝑓(2) = (2)3 − 3(2)2 + 2(2) − 6

𝑓(2) = 8 − 12 + 4 − 6
𝑓(2) = −6

Therefore, the remainder is −6.

Since the 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 ≠ 0, then 𝑥 − 2 is not a factor of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6.
 2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 14.
Is 𝑥 − 2 a factor?

Here, the divisor is (𝑥 − 2).

So,
𝑥−2=0
𝑥=2

Substitute 𝑥 = 2 into f(x). This is also written as 𝑓(2).

𝑓(2) = (2)3 − 7(2)2 + 3(2) + 14

𝑓(2) = 8 − 28 + 6 + 14
𝑓(2) = 0

Since the 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 = 0, then 𝑥 − 2 is a factor of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 14.

Upcoming Topics

 Recap of polynomials