Kalyssa Romero

Algebra 2

07/16/18

The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra Essay

Dear little bro,

So I know you might not need to know the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra for a couple

of years but why not get ahead. If you learn about this now maybe you won't have to struggle

with this topic as much as I did. I think with the amount of knowledge I have on this topic I

could help you understand it.

The fundamental theorem of algebra (F.T.A) is a theorem that states, “that a polynomial

of a degree n with (real) or complex coefficients has exactly n roots, which may be real or

complex”. What this mean is that the degree of a polynomial(anything that has 3 or more

monomials, and monomials are anything that has only one term and is a number, variable or

product of both) has the same amount of roots. You can find a degree of a polynomial by looking

at the highest power of X. What that statement is saying by using “complex” is that there can

also be imaginary roots, which you can not see without finding the factors and then simplifying

the polynomial to the 2nd degree in order to use the quadratic formula which you are familiar

with, the quadratic formula will give you the answers for the imaginary numbers. Although you

do not know about imaginary number yet its okay because I am only focusing on real roots.

Methods used in finding the factors are the factor theorem, and integral zero theorem. The

integral zero theorem tells us that the list of possible factors come from the last term (the
constant) and with this constant you use the factor theorem. You can see below what a

polynomial will look like with a real and complex root below.

The first method and the longest method is long division. It's not my preferred method

but something you need to know to fully understand the theorem. You divide all of the factors by

the equation. You find the factors by using the integral root theorem and the factor theorem, then

use those possible factors and divide it by the polynomial. Once you divide you must get a

remainder of zero in order for it to be a factor. You have to factor until you find all of the roots.

You can look at the example image below to get a better visual.

The next and easiest method for me and probably one you will enjoy because of how lazy

you are is synthetic division. Synthetic division is when you get the factor by using the integral
zero theorem and factor theorem. You plug in the possible factors that you got into the synthetic

division formula, and the list of the coefficients including the constant. You put the coefficients

and constant in the order of the equation but separated, you bring the first coefficient to the left

down and multiple it to the possible factor , after you add the multiplication of the first

coefficient and the factor to the second coefficient and then once you get the number that you got

by adding it you multiple it to the factor and so on. You have to continue doing this to all the

factors until you get all of the roots. In this method the last number that you get in your formula

must be zero in order for it to be a factor. You’ll see more on what i mean in the image below.

I hope I helped you understand a bit more of this not so complicated theorem. I know it

might seem a little complicated reading this but with time you'll get it and soon master yet

another complicated math theorem. But don’t worry this is probably the hardest thing you’ll do

in Algebra 2.

Love,

your favorite and only sister