THE REMAINDER THEOREM

1. a) Divide 2x3 – 3x2 + x – 6 by x + 2. Express the result in quotient form.

b) Identify any restrictions on the variable.
c) Write the corresponding statement that can be used to check the division.
d) Verify your answer.

2. Perform each division. Express the result in quotient form. Identify any restrictions on the variable.
a) x3 + 2x2 – 5x + 3 divided by x + 2
b) 4x3 + 3x – 4 divided by 2x + 1
c) 6x3 – 9x4 + 6x – 5 divided by 3x – 2
d) 8x3 – 10x2 – 21 divided by x – 3

3. Determine the remainder R so that each statement is true.

a) (3x – 2)(2x + 1) + R = 6x2 – x – 7
b) (x + 5)(2x – 1)(x + 4) + R = 2x3 + 17x2 + 31x – 10

4. The area, in square centimetres, of the base of a square-based box is

4x2 – 12x + 9. Determine possible dimensions of the box if the volume, in cubic centimetres, is 4x3
– 28x2 + 57x – 36.

5. Use the remainder theorem to determine the remainder for each division.
a) x3 – 3x2 + 5x – 2 divided by x – 4
b) 3x3 + x2 – 4x + 10 divided by x + 3
c) x4 + 2x3 – 3x + 2 divided by x + 2

6. Determine the value of c such that when P(x) = 2x3 – cx2 + 4x – 7 is divided by x– 2, the
remainder is –3.

7. For what value of k will the polynomial f(x) = x3 + 2x2 + kx + 5 have the same remainder when it is
divided by x + 1 and x – 2?

8. Use the remainder theorem to determine the remainder when x4 + x3 – 3x + 6 is divided by 3x – 2.

9. a) Use the remainder theorem to determine the remainder when

4x3 +2x2 – 6x + 1 is divided by 2x – 1.
b) Verify your answer in part a) using long division.

10. a) Determine the remainder when

8x3 + 2x2 – x is divided by 2x + 1.
b) Factor 8x3 + 2x2 – x fully.

11. When the polynomial mx3 + 5x2 – nx – 1 is divided by x – 1, the remainder is 2. When the same
polynomial is divided by x + 3, the remainder is 10. Determine the values of m and n.

Answers

36
1. a) 2x2 – 7x + 15 − b) x  –2 c) (2x2 – 7x + 15)(x + 2) – 36
𝑥+2
𝑥 3 +2𝑥 2 −5𝑥+3 13 4𝑥 3 +3𝑥−4 6 1
2. a) = 𝑥2 − 5 + , 𝑥 ≠ −2 b) = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2 − ,𝑥 ≠ −
𝑥+2 𝑥+2 2𝑥+1 2𝑥+1 2
−𝟗𝒙𝟒 +𝟔𝒙𝟑 +𝟔𝒙−𝟓 𝟏 𝟐 8𝑥 3 −10𝑥 2 −21 105
c) = +𝟐−−𝟑𝒙𝟐 , 𝒙 ≠ d) = 8𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 42 + ,𝑥 ≠ 3
3𝑥−2 𝟑𝒙−𝟐 𝟑 𝑥−3 𝑥−3
3. a) –5 b) 10
4. (2x – 3) cm by (2x – 3) cm by (x – 4) cm
One possible answer: 7 cm by 7 cm by 1 cm
40
5. a) 34 b) –50 c) 8 6. 5 7. –5 8. 4
81
9. a) –1
10. a) 0 b) x(2x + 1)(4x – 1)
5 11
11. m = , n =
3 3