Roots and factors of a polynomial

If P(x) is a polynomial, then a root of a polynomial is a number b such that P(b) = 0.

eg. If P(x) = x2 + 2x – 3

then P(1) = 0 and so 1 is a root of P(x).

This means that x – b will divide into P(x) without any remainder.

x + 3
x-1 x 2
+ 2x - 3
x2 - x
3x - 3
3x - 3
0

So for any root b of P(x), x – b will divide into P(x) without remainder. In this case we say
that x – b is a factor of P(x).

Conversely, we can test if x – c is a factor of P(x) (for any real number c).

We evaluate P(c). If P(c) = 0 then c is a root of P(x), and so x – c is a factor of P(x).

Otherwise, if P(c) ≠ 0 then x – c is not a factor of P(x).

eg. If P(x) = 2x3 - x2 - 13x – 6

then P(-2) = 0 and so x + 2 is a factor of P(x)

but P(1) ≠ 0 and so x – 1 is not a factor.

eg. For P(x) = x3 + 4x2 - 11x – 30, which of the following are factors?

a) x-3
b) x+3
c) x–2
d) x+2

a) P(x) = x3 + 4x2 - 11x – 30

[1]
 P(3) = 33 + 4x32 – 11x3 – 30
= 27 + 36 – 33 – 30
=0
∴ x – 3 is a factor

b) P(x) = x3 + 4x2 - 11x – 30

P(-3) = (-3)3 + 4x(-3)2 – 11x-3 – 30
= -27 + 36 + 33 – 30
= 12

∴ x + 3 is not a factor

c) P(x) = x3 + 4x2 - 11x – 30

P(2) = 23 + 4x22 – 11x2 – 30
= 8 + 16 – 22 – 30
= -28

∴ x – 2 is not a factor

d) P(x) = x3 + 4x2 - 11x – 30

P(-2) = (-2)3 + 4x(-2)2 – 11x-2 – 30
= -8 + 16 + 22 – 30
=0
∴ x + 2 is a factor

Factorising a polynomial

To factorise a polynomial means to express the polynomial as a set of linear brackets

multiplied together.

eg. 2x3 - x2 - 13x – 6 = (x + 2)(2x + 1)(x – 3)

To factorise a polynomial:

[2]
  Find a root by trial and error
 Convert the root to a factor
 Divide the polynomial by that factor
 Continue until all brackets contain linear expressions, if possible.

eg. Factorise x3 + 2x2 - x – 2.

Let P(x) = x3 + 2x2 - x – 2

P(1) = 13 + 2x12 - 1 – 2
=1+2–1–2=0

Therefore x – 1 is a factor.

Now divide P(x) by x – 1.

x2 + 3x + 2
x-1 x +
3
2x - 2
x - 2
x3 - x2
3x2 - x
3x - 2
3x
2x - 2
2x - 2
0

Therefore P(x) can be written as (x – 1)(x2 + 3x + 2)

x2 + 3x + 2 can be factorised further. It is not necessary to perform another long division in

this case, because x2 + 3x + 2 factorises to (x + 1)( x + 2).

Therefore P(x) can be written as (x – 1) (x + 1)( x + 2). P(x) is now fully factorised.

Solving a polynomial equation

[3]
If we have a polynomial equation of the form P(x) = 0, we can use its factors to obtain
solutions.

eg. Solve P(x) = x3 + 2x2 - x – 2 = 0.

First we factorise as shown in the previous example.

P(x) = (x – 1)(x + 1)(x + 2) = 0 (this is the same polynomial as in 5.8)

Solutions are x = 1, x = -1 and x = -2.

[4]