MATHEMATICS

PRE-RMO
WORKSHEET - 5

FACTORIZATION OF POLYNOMIALS

FACTOR THEOREM FACTORIZATION

Statement: Let f(x) be a polynomial of degree  1 Formulae :

and a be any real constant such that f(a) = 0, then (a) (a ± b)2 = a2 ± 2ab + b2 = (a ± b)2 ± 4ab
(x – a) is a factor of f(x). Conversely, if (b) a2 – b2 = (a + b) (a – b)
(x – a) is a factor of f(x), then f(a) = 0. 1
If a2 – b2 = 1 then a + b =
a b

Proof: By Remainder theorem, if f(x) is divided For example:

by (x – a), the remainder will be f(a). 1 2

sec  – tan  = or 3 +
sec   tan 
Let q(x) be the quotient.
1
Then, we can write, f(x) = (x – a) × q(x) + f(a) = .
3 2
(Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder)
If f(a) = 0, then f(x) = (x – a) × q(x).
(c) (a + b)3 = a3 + b3 + 3ab(a + b)
Thus, (x – a) is a factor of q(x).
(d) (a – b)3 = a3 – b3 – 3ab(a – b)
Converse Let (x – a) is a factor of f(x). Then we
(e) a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2) = (a + b)3 –
have a polynomial q(x) such that f(x) = (x – a) ×
3ab(a + b)
q(x). Replacing x by a, we get f(a) = 0.
(f) a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2) = (a – b)3 +
Hence, proved.
3ab(a – b)
(g) (a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2ab + 2bc +
Ex.1 Use the factor theorem to determine
2ca
whether (x – 1) is a factor of (x) = 2
(h) a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc = (a + b + c) (a2 + b2 +
1 2 1 3
x + 5 2 x2 – 7 2 . 1
x 2 1 c2 – ab – bc – ca) = (a + b + c){(a – b)2
2
Sol. By using factor theorem, (x – 1) is a factor + (b – c)2 + (c – a)2}
of f(x), only when f(1) = 0 (i) (a + b + c)3 = a3 + b3 + c3 + 3(a + b) (b + c)
f(1) = 2 2 (1)3 + 5 2 (1)2 – 7 2 = 2 2 (c + a)
+5 2 –7 2 =0 (j) a4 + a2 + 1 = (a2 + 1)2 – a2 = (1 + a + a2)(1
Hence, (x – 1) is a factor of f(x). – a + a2)

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 CYCLIC FACTORS Type-5: Using factor Theorem
If an expression remain same after replacing a by Ex.6 x3 – 13x – 12
b, b by c & c by a, then it is called cyclic Sol. x3 – 13x – 12
expression and its factors are called cyclic factors.  x = –1 satisfies given expression
e.g. a(b – c) + b(c – a) + c(a– b)  x + 1 is a factor
Factorization :
x  1 x3  13 x  12( x 2  x  12
Type-1: a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
x3  x2

Ex.2 (3x – y)2 – (2x – 3y)2  x 2  13x  12

Sol. Use a2 – b2  x2  x
12 x  12
= (a – b)(a + b) (3x – y)2 – (2x – 3y)2
 12 x  12
= (3x – y + 2x – 3y) (3x – y – 2x + 3y)
0
= (5x – 4y) (x + 2y)
 x3 – 13x – 12 = (x + 1) (x2 – x – 12)

Type-2: a3 + b3  (a + b) (a2 –ab +b2) = (x + 1)(x – 4)(x + 3)

a3 – b3  (a – b) (a2 +ab +b2)

Type-6: a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc
6 6 = (a + b + c) (a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ac)
Ex.3 a –b
Ex. 8x3 + y3 + 27z3 – 18xyz
Sol. a6 – b6 = (a2)3 – (b2)3
Sol. 8x3 + y3 + 27z3 – 18xyz
= (a2 – b2)(a4 + a2b2 + b4)
= (2x)3 + (y)3 + (3z)3 – 3(2x)(y)(3z)
= (a – b)(a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)(a2 + ab + b2)
= (2x + y + 3z)(4x2 + y2 + 9z2 – 2xy – 6xz
– 3yz)
Type-3: Factorising the quadratic

Type-7:
Ex.4 x2 + 6x – 187
Ex. x(x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) – 8
Sol. x2 + 6x – 187
Sol. x(x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) – 8
= x2 + 17x – 11x – 187
= x(x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) – 8
= x(x + 17) – 11(x + 17)
= x(x + 3) (x + 1) (x + 2) – 8
= (x + 17) (x – 11)
= (x2 + 3x) (x2 + 3x + 2) – 8
= (x2 + 3x)2 + 2(x2 + 3x) – 8
Type-4: Factorization by converting the given
= (x2 + 3x)2 + 4(x2 + 3x) – 2(x2 + 3x) – 8
expression into a perfect square.
= (x2 + 3x)(x2 + 3x + 4) – 2(x2 + 3x + 4)
Ex.5 9x4 – 10x2 + 1
= (x2 + 3x – 2)(x2 + 3x + 4)
Sol. 9x4 – 10x2 + 1
= (9x2 – 1)(x2 – 1)
= (3x – 1)(3x + 1)(x – 1)(x + 1)

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 WORK SHEET 7. Factorize following expressions

1. If x = 3 – 8 , then find the value of (i) x3 – 6x2 + 11x – 6

(ii) 2x3 + 9x2 + 10x + 3
1
 x.
x (iii) 2x3 – 9x2 + 13x – 6
(iv) x6 – 7x2 – 6.
a 3  b3  c3  3abc
2. The value of is
ab  bc  ca  a 2  b 2  c2
8. (i) Factorize the expressions 8a6 + 5a3+1
(where a = – 5, b = – 6, c = 10).
(ii) Show that (x – y)3 + (y – z)3 + (z –x)3
3. Factorize following expressions = 3(x – y) (y – z) (z – x).
4 4
(i) x –y
(ii) 9a2 – (2x – y)2 9. Factorize following expressions
2 2
(iii) 4x – 9y – 6x – 9y (i) (x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) – 15
(ii) 4x(2x + 3) (2x – 1) (x + 1) – 54
4. Factorize following expressions
(iii) (x – 3) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 8) + 56.
(i) 8x3 – 27y3
(ii) 8x3 – 125y3 + 2x – 5y
10. The cubic polynomial P(x) satisfies the
condition that (x – 1)2 is a factor of P(x) +
5. Factorize following expressions
2, and (x + 1)2 is a factor of P(x) – 2.
(i) x2 + 3x – 40
Then P(3) equals.
(ii) x2 – 3x – 40
(A) 27 (B) 18 (C) 12 (D) 6.
(iii) x2 + 5x – 14
(iv) x2 – 3x – 4
11. Show that (2x + 1) is a factor of the
(v) x2 – 2x – 3
expression
(vi) 3x2 – 10x + 8
2 f(x) = 32x5 – 16x4 + 8x3 + 4x + 5.
(vii) 12x + x – 35
(viii) 3x2 – 5x + 2
12. Using factor theorem, show that a – b, b –c
(ix) 3x2 – 7x + 4
2
and c – a are the factors of a(b2 – c2) + b(c2
(x) 7x – 8x + 1
2
– a2) + c (a2 – b2).
(xi) 2x – 17x + 26
(xii) 3a2 – 7a – 6
13. If f(x) = x4 – 2x3 + 3x2 – ax + b is a
2
(xiii) 14a + a – 3.
polynomial such that when it is divided by

6. Factorize following expressions (x – 1) and (x + 1) the remainders are 5

(i) a2 – 4a + 3 + 2b – b2 and 19 respectively. If f(x) is divided by

(ii) x4 + 324 (x– 2), then remainder is :
(iii) x4 – y2 + 2x2 + 1 (A) 0 (B) 5

(iv) 4a4 – 5a2 + 1 (C) 10 (D) 2.

(v) 4x4 + 81.

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14. Find the remainder when f(x) = 3x3 + x2 –
4x – 1.

15. Show that (x – 2) is a factor of f(x) = 3x2 +

x2 – 14x.

16. Find the remainder when

f(x) = 4x3 + 2x2 – 3x + 1 is divided by (2x
– 1).

17. State the quotient and the remainder when

6x3 == 8x + 5 is divided by by 2x – 4.

18. Show that (2x + 3) is a factor of f(x) = 2x3

+ 3x2 – 2x – 3.

19. Factorise, f(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 – 29x – 60 and

hence solve f(x) = 0.

20. Factorise x3 – x2 + 4x – 12 and hence show

that x3 – x2 + 4x – 12 = 0.

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 ANSWER SHEET Sol.4 (i) 8x3 – 27y3

= (2x)3 – (3y)3
Sol.1 x = 3 – 8=3–2 2
= (2x – 3y)(4x2 + 9y2 + 6xy)
x = ( 2 )2 – 2 + 21 +(1)2
x = ( 2 – 1)2 (ii) 8x3 – 125y3 + 2x – 5y

x= 2 –1
Sol.5
1 1 1 2 1
= = × (i) x2 + 3x – 40 = (x + 8)(x – 5)
x 2 1 2 1 2 1
(ii) x2 – 3x – 40 = (x – 8)(x + 5)
1
= 2 +1
x (iii) x2 + 5x – 14 = (x + 7)(x – 2)
1
– x  2  – ( 2 – 1) (iv) x2 – 3x – 4 = (x – 4)(x + 1)
x
(v) x2 – 2x – 3 = (x – 3)(x + 1)
 2 +1 – 2 +1
1 (vi) 3x2 – 10x + 8
– x = 2.
x = 3x2 – 6x – 4x + 8

Sol.2 a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc = (3x – 4)(x – 2)

= (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca) (vii) 12x2 + x – 35 = 12x2 + 21x – 20x – 35

= 3x(4x + 7) – 5(4x + 7)
a 3  b3  c3  3abc
=
(a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ca) = (4x + 7)(3x – 5)

(viii) 3x2 – 5x + 2 = 3x2 – 3x – 2x + 2

a 3  b3  c3  3abc
=
(a 2  b 2  c2  3abc) = 3x(x – 1) – 2(x – 1)
(a  b  c)
= (x – 1)(3x – 2)
= – (a + b + c) = – (– 5 – 6 + 10) = 1
(ix) 3x2 – 7x + 4 = 3x2 – 3x – 4x + 4

= 3x(x – 1) – 4(x – 1)
Sol.3 (i) x4 – y4 = (x2 – y2)(x2 + y2)
= (3x – 4)(x – 1)
= (x + y)(x – y)(x2 – y2)
(x) 7x2 – 8x + 1 = 7x2 – 7x – x + 1
(ii) 9a2 – (2x – y)2
= 7x(x – 1) – 1(x – 1)
= (3a + 2x – y)(3a – 2x + y)
= (x – 1)(7x – 1)
(iii) 4x2 – 9y2 – 6x – 9y
(xi) 2x2 – 17x + 26 = 2x2 – 4x – 13x + 26
= (2x + 3y)(2x – 3y) – 3(2x + 3y)
= (2x + 3y)(2x – 3y – 3) = 2x(x – 2) – 13(x – 2)

= (x – 2)(2x – 13)

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(xii) 3a2 – 7a – 6 (ii) 2x3 + 9x2 + 10x + 3

= 3a2 – 9a + 2a – 6 = (x + 1)(2x2 + 7x + 3)

= 3a(a – 3) + 2(a – 3) = (x + 1)(2x2 + 6x + x + 3)

= (a – 3)(3a + 2) = (x + 1)(2x + 1)(x + 3)

(xiii) 14a2 + a – 3 = 14a2 + 7a – 6a – 3 (iii) 2x3 – 9x2 + 13x – 6

= (7a – 3)(2a + 1). = (x – 1)(2x2 – 7x + 6)

= (x – 1)(2x2 – 4x – 3x + 6)
Sol.6
(i) a2 – 4a + 3 +2b – b2 = (x – 1)(2x – 3)(x – 2)

= (a – 2)2 – (b – 1)2 (iv) x6 – 7x2 – 6

= (a – 2 + b – 1)(a – 2 – b + 1) = (x2 + 1)(x4 – x2 – 6)

= (a + b – 3)(a – b – 1) = (x2 + 1)(x2 – 3)(x2 + 2)

(ii) x4 + 324 = (x2 + 1)(x2 + 2) (x 3 )(x 3 ).

= x4 + 182 = (x2)2 + 2 × 18x2 – 2 × 18x2 +

Sol.8
182
(i) 8a6 + 5a3 + 1
= (x2 + 18)2 – (6x)2 = (x2 + 18 + 6x)(x2 +
= 8a6 + 6a3 – a3 + 1
18 – 6x)
4 2 2
= (2a2)3 + (–a)3 + 13 – 3 × 2a2x(–a) × 1
(iii) x – y + 2x + 1.
2 2 2 2 2
= (2a2 – a + 1)(4a4 + a2 + 1 + 2a3 + a – 2a2)
= (x + 1) – y = (x + y + 1)(x + 1 – y)
= (2a2 – a + 1)(4a4 + 2a3 – a2 + a + 1)
(iv) 4a4 – 4a2 – a2 + 1 = 4a4 – 4a2 – a2 + 1
(ii) Let A = x – y, B = y – z, C = z – x A + B
= 4a2(a2 – 1) – 1(a2 – 1)
+ C = 0 then A3 + B3 + C3 = 3ABC
= (4a2 – 1)(a2 – 1)
= (x – y)3 + (y – z)3 + (z – x)3
= (2a + 1)(2a – 1)(a + 1)(a – 1)
= 3(x – y)(y – z)(z – x).
4 2 2 2 2
(v) 4x + 81 = (2x ) + 36x + 81 – 36x

= (2x2 + 9)2 – (6x)2 Sol.9

(i) (x  1)(x  2)(x  3)(x  4)  15

= (2x2 + 6x + 9)(2x2 – 6x + 9)
= (x2 + 5x + 4)(x2 + 5x + 6) – 15
Sol.7 (let x2 + 5x = t)
(i) x3 – 6x2 + 11x – 6 = (t + 4)(t + 6) – 15
= (x – 1)(x2 – 5x + 6) = t2 + 10t + 9 = (t + 9)(t + 1)
= (x – 1)(x – 3)(x – 2) = (x2 + 5x + 9)(x2 + 5x + 1)

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(ii) 4x  2x  3 2x –1 x  1  54 Sol.11 Since (2x + 1) is to be a factor of f(x),
 1
2 2 f    should be zero.
= (4x + 4x)(4x + 4x – 3) – 54  2
= t(t – 3) – 54 5 4 3
 1  1  1 1
f     32     16     8  
(let 4x2 + 4x = t)  2  2  2  2
 1  1
= t2 – 3t – 54 = (t – 9)(t + 6). 4    3  4     5
 2  2
= (4x2 + 4x – 9)(4x2 + 4x + 6) Hence (2x + 1) is a factor of f(x).
= 2(2x2 + 4x + 3)(4x2 + 4x – 9)
Sol.12 By factor theorem, a – b will be a factor of
(iii)  x  3 x  2  x  3(x  8)  56 the given expression if it vanishes by

= (x2 + 5x – 24)(x2 + 5x + 6) + 56 substituting a = b in it.

= (t – 30)(t) + 56 Substituting a = b in the given expression,

we have a(b2 – c2) + b(c2 – a2) + c(a2 – b2)
(let x2 + 5x + 6 = t)
= b(b2 – c2) + b(c2 – b2) + c(b2 – b2)
= t2 – 28t – 2t + 56 = t(t – 28) – 2(t – 28)
2 2
= b3 – bc2 + bc2 – b3 + c(b2 – b2) = 0
= (t – 28)(t – 2) = (x + 5x – 22)(x +5x+4)
2
 (a – b) is a factor of a(b2 – c2) + b(c2 –
= (x + 5x – 22)(x + 4)(x + 1).
a2) + c(a2 – b2).

Similarly, we can show that (b – c) and (c

Sol.10 P(x) + 2 = (ax+ b) (x – 1)2 ……(i)
– a) are also factors of the given
P(x)– 2 = (cx+ d) (x + 1) ……(ii) expression.
equating P(x) from (i) and (ii) and Hence, (a – b), (b – c) and (c – a) are
comparing coefficients of all powers of 'x' factors of the given expression.
2 2
(ax + b) (x – 2x + 1) – 2 = (cx + d) (x +
2x + 1) + 2 coeff. of x3 : a = c
Sol.13 P(1) = 5  2 – a + b = 5  b – a = 3
2
coeff. of x : – 2a + b = 2c + d ……(ii) ......(i)

coeff. of x : a – 2b = 2d + c ….... (iii) P(–1) = 6 + a + b = 19  b + a = 13

.......(ii)
const : b – 2 = d + 2  b = d + 4 ….... (iv)
solving (i) and (ii) b = 8, a = 5 so
by (iii) and (iv) – 2b = 2d ( a= c) remainder = P(2) = 10

and, b = 2, d = –2 and by (i), a = c = 1

Sol.14 By the Remainder Theorem, the remainder
 P(x) = (x + 2)(x2 – 2x + 1) – 2 ... (i)
is f(2).
So, P(3) = 5(9 – 6 + 1) – 2 = 18.
f(x) = 3x3 + x2 – 4x – 1

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 f(2) = 3(2)3 + (2)2 – 4(2) – 1 1
2 x2  2 x 
2
f(2) = 24 + 4 – 8 – 1
2 x  1 4 x3  2 x 2  3 x  1
f(2) = 19
 4 x3  2 x 2
Hence, the remainder is 19.
4 x 2  3x
4 x 2  2 x
Sol.15 By the Factor Theorem, if (x – 2) is a  x 1

factor of the remainder zero. We now 1

x
2
compute the remainder, f(2).
1
f(x) = 3x2 + x2 – 14x 2

f(2) = 3(2)2 + (2)2 – 14(2)

Sol.17 In this example, the dividend has no terms
f(2) = 24 + 4 – 28
in x2 . It is advisable to add on such a term
f(2) = 0. to maintain consistency between the
Hence, (x – 2) is a factor of f(x). quotient and the divisor. This is done by
inserting a term in x2 as shown below.

Sol.16 In this example (2x – 1) is of the form (ax 3x2  6 x  8

+ b), where a = 2 and b – 1. The remainder 2 x  4 6 x3  0 x 2  8 x  5
would be
 (6 x 3  12 x 2 )
 (1)  1 12 x 2  8 x  5
f=   = f 
 2  2
(12 x 2  24 x )
3 2 16 x  5
1 1 1 1
f   = 4   +2   –3   +1  (16 x  32)
2 2  2 2
37
1 1 1 1
=  1  1  The quotient is 3x2 + 6x + 8
2 2 2 2
The Remainder is 37.
Alternatively, we could have used long
division to show that the remainder is one Sol.18 When f(x) is divided by (2x + 3), the
half. remainder is
3 2
 3  3  3  3
f     2     3    2     3  0
 2  2  2  2
Hence, (2x + 3) is a factor of f(x) since the
remainder is 0.

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Sol.19 Let f(x) = 2x3 = 3x2 – 29 – 60. Dividing by the factor (x –2)

To obtain the first factor, we use the x2  x  6

reminder theorem to test for f(1), f(–1) and x  2 x3  x 2  4 x
so on, until we obtain a remainder of zero.
 x3  2 x 2
We found that,
x2  4x  5
f(4) = 2(4)3 + 3(4)2 – 29(4) – 62 = 128 +  x2  2 x
48 – 116 – 62 6 x  12
 6 x  12)
f(4) = 0
0
Therefore (x – 4) is a factor of f(x).
x3 – x2 + 4x – 12
Now that we have found a first factor, we
= (x – 2)(x2 + x + 6)
divide f(x) by (x – 4).
 (x – 2) = 0 or (x2 + x + 6) = 0
2 x 2  11x  15
x=2
x  4 2 x 3  3 x 2  29 x  60
The quadratic x2 + x + 6 has no real roots
3 2
 2 x  8x
because the discriminant
2
11x  29 x
b2 – 4ac = (1)2 – 4(1)(6)
11x 2  44 x
 15 x  60 = 1 – 25 = – 24>0
 15 x  60
Hence, x3 – x2 + 4x – 12 = 0 has only one
0
solution, x = 2
2x2 + 11x + 15 = (x + 3)(2x + 5)

 f(x) = (2x + 5)(x + 3)(x – 4)

If f(x) = 0, then (2x + 5)(x + 3)(x – 4)=0.

1
So x = – 3, 2 and 4.
2

Sol.20 To get the first factor, we apply the

remainder theorem as follows:

f(1) = (1)3 – (1)2 + 4(1) – 12  0

f(1) = (–1)3 – (1)2 + 4(–1) – 12  0

f(2) = (2)3 – (2)2 + 4(2) – 12  0

Hence, (x – 2) is a factor of f(x).

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