1.

2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.7: Find the quotient and remainder when
i) 2x2 + 5x − 3 is divided by x + 2

2x + 1
x+2 2x2 + 5x − 3
quotient: 2x + 1
2x2 + 4x
remainder: −5
x − 3
x + 2
− 5

ii) x − x2 + 4 is divided by 1 + x

−x + 2
x+1 −x2 + x + 4
quotient: −x + 2
−x2 − x
remainder: 2
2x + 4
2x + 2
2

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1.2 Division of polynomials
iii) 4x3 + x − 1 is divided by 2x − 1

2x2 + x + 1
2x − 1 4x3 + x − 1 quotient: 2x2 + x + 1
4x3 − 2x2 remainder: 0
2x2 + x − 1
2x2 − x
2x − 1
2x − 1
0

iv) x4 is divided by x2 + 2x − 1

x2 − 2x + 5
x2 + 2x − 1 x4 quotient: x2 − 2x + 5
4 3 2
x + 2x − x
remainder: −12x + 5
− 2x3 + x2
− 2x3 − 4x2 + 2x
5x2 − 2x
5x2 + 10x − 5
− 12x + 5

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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.8: The polynomial x4 + 3x3 + ax + b, where a and b are constants, is
denoted by p(x). When p(x) is divided by x2 + x − 1 the remainder is 2x + 3.
Find the values of a and b.

x2 + 2x − 1

x2 + x − 1 x4 + 3x3 + ax + b
4 3 2
x + x − x

2x3 + x2 + ax + b
3
2x + 2x2 − 2x

− x2 + (a + 2)x + b

− 4x2 − x + 1

(a + 3)x + b−1

The remainder is (a + 3)x + b − 1.

Comparing the coefficients of powers of x gives

a + 3 = 2 =⇒ a = −1
b − 1 = 3 =⇒ b = 4

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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.9: The polynomial x4 + 3x3 + ax + 3 is denoted by p(x). It is given
that p(x) is divisible by x2 − x + 1.
i) Find the value of a.

x2 + 4x + 3
2
x −x+1 x4 + 3x3 + ax + 3

x4 − x3 + x2

4x3 − x2 + ax + 3

4x3 − 4x2 + 4x

3x2 + (a − 4)x + 3
2
3x − 3x + 3

(a − 1)x

The remainder which is (a − 1)x is 0. Therefore a = 1

ii) When a has this value, find the real roots of the equation p(x) = 0.
p(x) = (x2 + 4x + 3)(x2 − x + 1) = 0
x2 + 4x + 3 = 0, x2 − x + 1 = 0
(x + 3)(x + 1) = 0, no real roots b2 − 4ac = −3 < 0
x = −3, −1
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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.10: The polynomial ax3 − 20x2 + x + 3, where a is a constant, is
denoted by p(x). It is given that (3x + 1) is a factor of p(x).
i) Find the value of a.

p(− 31 ) = 0
a(− 13 )3 − 20(− 31 )2 − 1
3
+3=0
1 4
− 27 a+ 9
= 0 =⇒ a = 12

ii) When a has this value, factorise p(x) completely.

4x2 − 8x + 3
p(x) = (4x2 − 8x + 3)(3x + 1)
3x + 1 12x3 − 20x2 + x + 3
= (2x − 3)(2x − 1)(3x + 1)
12x3 + 4x2

− 24x2 + x + 3

− 24x2 − 8x

9x + 3

9x + 3

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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.11: The polynomial 4x3 + ax2 + bx − 2, where a and b are constants,
is denoted by p(x). It is given that (x + 1) and (x + 2) are factors of p(x).
i) Find the values of a and b.
p(−1) = 0 (2) − (1):
−4 + a − b − 2 = 0
a = 11
a−b=6 (1)
b=5
p(−2) = 0
−32 + 4a − 2b − 2 = 0
2a − b = 17 (2)

ii) When a and b have these values, find the remainder when p(x) is divided by
(x2 + 1).
4x + 11

x2 + 1 4x3 + 11x2 + 5x − 2
remainder: x − 13

4x3 + 4x
2
11x + x − 2

11x2 + 11

x − 13

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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.12: The polynomial ax3 + bx2 + 5x − 2, where a and b are constants,
is denoted by p(x). It is given that (2x − 1) is a factor of p(x) and that when p(x)
is divided by (x − 2) the remainder is 12.
i) Find the values of a and b.
2(1) − (2):
p( 12 ) = 0 p(2) = 12
1 8a + 4b + 10 − 2 = 12 3b = −9
8
a + 14 b + 5
2
−2=0
2a + b = 1 (2) b = −3
a + 2b = −4 (1)
a=2

ii) When a and b have these values, find the quadratic factor of p(x).

x2 − x + 2
p(x) = (x2 − x + 2)(2x − 1)
2x − 1 2x3 − 3x2 + 5x − 2

2x3 − x2 quadratic factor:

− 2x2 + 5x − 2 x2 − x + 2
− 2x2 + x

4x − 2

4x − 2

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1.2 Division of polynomials
Exercise 1.13: The polynomial 8x3 + ax2 + bx − 1, where a and b are constants,
is denoted by p(x). It is given that (x + 1) is a factor of p(x) and that when p(x)
is divided by (2x + 1) the remainder is 1.
i) Find the values of a and b.
(1) − (2):
p(−1) = 0 p(− 21 ) = 1
−8 + a − b − 1 = 0 b = −3
−1 + 41 a − 12 b − 1 = 1
a−b=9 (1) a=6
a − 2b = 12 (2)

ii) When a and b have these values, factorise p(x) completely.

8x2 − 2x − 1
p(x) = (8x2 − 2x − 1)(x + 1)
x+1 8x3 + 6x2 − 3x − 1
= (4x + 1)(2x − 1)(x + 1)
8x3 + 8x2

− 2x2 − 3x − 1
2
− 2x − 2x

− x − 1

− x − 1

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