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Exercise 2.4

3. Answer

(i) According to factor theorem, if x - 1 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = x2 + x + k,

then p(1) = 0
p(x) = x2 + x + k,
=(1)2 + 1 + k = 0
=2+k=0
k=-2
Therefore, value of k is -2.

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(ii) According to factor theorem, if x - 1 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = 2x2 + kx + 2,

then p(1) = 0
p(x) = 2x2 + kx + 2
= 2(1)2 + k(1) + 2 = 0
= 2 + k + 2 = 0
k = -2 - 2 = -(2 + 2)
Therefore, value of k is (2 + 2).

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(iii) According to factor theorem, if x - 1 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = kx2 - 2x + 1,

then p(1) = 0
p(x) = kx2 - 2x + 1
= k(1)2 - 2(1) + 1 = 0
= k - 2 + 1 = 0
k = 2 - 1
Therefore, value of k is 2 - 1.
(iv) According to factor theorem, if x - 1 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = kx2 - 3x + k,
then p(1) = 0
p(x) = kx2 - 3x + k
= k(1)2 + 3(1) + k = 0
Hint: To find the value of p (1) it is not necessary to
=k-3+k=0
= 2k - 3 = 0
substitute 1 in the place of x. Instead simply detach the
k = 3/2
coefficients and do the operation.
Therefore, value of k is 3/2.
Eg.If p(x) = 2x2 + kx + 2, then
P(1) = 2 +k +2