# 2. The Remainder Theorem and the Factor Theorem

This section discusses the historical method of solving higher degree polynomial equations.

As we discussed in the previous section Polynomial Functions and Equations, a polynomial function is of the form:

f(x) = a0xn + a1xn-1 + a2xn-2 + ... + an

where

a0 ≠ 0 and

n is a positive integer, called the degree of the polynomial.

### Example 1

f(x) = 7x5 + 4x3 − 2x2 − 8x + 1 is a polynomial function of degree 5.

## Dividing Polynomials

First, let's consider what happens when we divide numbers.

Say we try to divide 13 by 5. We will get the answer 2 and have a remainder of 3. We could write this as:

13/5 = 2 + 3/5

Another way of thinking about this example is:

13 = 2 × 5 + 3

Division of polynomials is something like our number example.

If we divide a polynomial by (x r), we obtain a result of the form:

f(x) = (x r) q(x) + R

where q(x) is the quotient and R is the remainder.

### Example 2

Divide f(x) = 3x2 + 5x − 8 by (x − 2).

## The Remainder Theorem

Consider f(x) = (x r)q(x) + R

Note that if we let x = r, the expression becomes

f(r) = (r r) q(r) + R

Simplifying gives:

f(r) = R

This leads us to the Remainder Theorem which states:

If a polynomial f(x) is divided by (xr) and a remainder R is obtained, then f(r) = R.

### Example 3

Use the remainder theorem to find the remainder for Example 1 above, which was divide f(x) = 3x2 + 5x − 8 by (x − 2).

### Example 4

By using the remainder theorem, determine the remainder when

3x3x2 − 20x + 5

is divided by (x + 4).

## The Factor Theorem

The Factor Theorem states:

If the remainder f(r) = R = 0, then (x r) is a factor of f(x).

The Factor Theorem is powerful because it can be used to find roots of polynomial equations.

### Example 5

Is (x + 1) a factor of f(x) = x3 + 2x2 − 5x − 6?

### Exercises

1. Find the remainder R by long division and by the Remainder Theorem.

(2x4 - 10x2 + 30x - 60) ÷ (x + 4)

2. Find the remainder using the Remainder Theorem

(x4 − 5x3 + x2 − 2x + 6) ÷ (x + 4)

3. Use the Factor Theorem to decide if (x − 2) is a factor of

f(x) = x5 − 2x4 + 3x3 − 6x2 − 4x + 8.

4. Determine whether -3/2 is a zero (root) of the function:

f(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 − 8x − 12.

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