Polynomials – Worksheet 2

1. Complete the following long divisions and in each case state the remainder.
a) (3 x 3−4 x 2+6 x +5 ¿ ÷(x−2)

b) (4 x 3+ 5 x 2−x +7 ¿ ÷(x +3)

c) ( x 4 +9 x 3−4 x 2+3 x−2 ¿ ÷( x−1)

d) (3 x 2+ 11 x−20 ¿ ÷( x +5)

e) ( x 3−x 2+ 2 x−1 ¿ ÷( x +6)

f) ( x 3−4 x 2+7 x−10 ¿ ÷( x−4)

g) ( x 4 +6 x 2−9 ¿ ÷(x +5)

2. a) Divide 5 x 3+ 7 x2 −6 x−1 by x +4.

b) What is the remainder?

3. a) Divide x 3+ x2 −14 x−24 by x−4.

b) Using your result in (a), fully factorise x 3+ x2 −14 x−24 .

4. a) Divide x 3−5 x 2+3 x +9 by x +1.

b) Using your result in (a), fully factorise x 3−5 x 2+3 x +9 .

5. Use the factor theorem to decide which of the following are factors
of P( x )=x 3 +6 x 2−x−30 .
a) x +2
b) x +3
c) x−2
d) x−3
6. Is x−5 a factor of 5 x 2−3 x+10 ? Explain your reasoning.

7. Factorise the following:

a) P( x )=x 3 +8 x 2+19 x +12

b) P( x )=x 3−3 x 2−18 x+ 40

c) P( x )=x 3−2 x 2−21 x−18

d) P( x )=x 3−18 x 2+ 95 x −150

8. Solve the following polynomial equations.

a) P( x )=x 3−5 x 2−12 x +36=0

b) x 3−8 x 2−19 x−10=0

c) x 3+ 8 x2 =3 x +90
 Answers

1. a) 3 x 2+2 x +10 , remainder = 25

b) 4 x 2−7 x+ 20 , remainder = −53

c) x 3+ 10 x 2 +6 x +9 , remainder = 7
d) 3 x−4 , remainder = 0
e) x 2−7 x+ 44 , remainder = −265

f) x 2+ 7 , remainder = 18

g) x 3−5 x 2+31 x−155 , remainder = 766

2. a) 5 x 2−13 x+ 46
b) −185
3. a) x 2+ 5 x +6

b) ( x−4 ) ( x +2)( x+3)

4. a) x 2−6 x +9
b) (x +1) ¿
5. a) No b) Yes c) Yes d) No
6. No. Using the factor theorem, the remainder is 120.
7. a) ( x +1 )( x +3 ) ( x+ 4 )
b) ( x−2 ) ( x−5 ) ( x+ 4 )
c) ( x +1 )( x−6 )( x +3 )
d) ( x−10 ) ( x−3 ) ( x−5 )
8. a) x=−3 , 2∨6
b) x=−1∨10
c) x=−5 ,−6∨3