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3 Dividing Polynomials
Long Division of Polynomials
Dividing polynomials is much like the familiar process of
dividing numbers. When we divide 38 by 7, the quotient is 5
and the remainder is 3.
We write
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Long Division of Polynomials
To divide polynomials, we use long division, as follows.
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Example 1 – Long Division of Polynomials
Divide 6x2 – 26x + 12 by x – 4. Express the result in each of
the two forms of division algorithm.
Solution:
The dividend is 6x2 – 26x + 12, and the divisor is x – 4.
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d
or
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Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a quick method of dividing
polynomials; it can be used when the divisor is of the form
x – c.
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Synthetic Division
Long Division Synthetic Division
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Example 2 – Synthetic Division
Use synthetic division to divide 2x3 – 7x2 + 5 by x – 3.
Solution:
We begin by writing the appropriate coefficients to
represent the divisor and the dividend:
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
Multiply: 3 2 = 6
Add: –7 + 6 = –1
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
Multiply: 3(–1) = –3
Add: 0 + (–3) = –3
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
Multiply: 3(–3) = –9
Add: 5 + (–9) = –4
From the last line of the synthetic division we see that the
quotient is 2x2 – x – 3 and the remainder is –4.
Thus
2x3 – 7x2 + 5 = (x – 3)(2x2 – x – 3) – 4
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The Remainder and Factor Theorems
The next theorem shows how synthetic division can be
used to evaluate polynomials easily.
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Example 3 – Using the Remainder Theorem to Find the Value of a Polynomial
x + 2.
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Example 3(a) – Solution
Since x + 2 = x – (–2), the synthetic division for this
problem takes the following form.
The quotient is
3x4 – x3 – 2x2 + 4x – 1,
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Example 3(b) – Solution cont’d
P(–2) = 5.
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The Remainder and Factor Theorems
The next theorem says that zeros of polynomials
correspond to factors.
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Example 4 – Factoring a Polynomial Using the Factor Theorem
Let P (x) = x3 – 7x + 6.
Solution:
Substituting, we see that P (1) = 13 – 7 1 + 6
= 0.
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Example 4 – Solution cont’d
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3.4 Real Zeros of Polynomials
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Real Zeros Of Polynomials
The Factor Theorem tells us that finding the zeros of a
polynomial is really the same thing as factoring it into linear
factors.
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Rational Zeros of Polynomials
To help us understand the next theorem, let’s consider the
polynomial
This means that the zeros of the polynomial are all factors
of the constant term.
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Rational Zeros of Polynomials
The following generalizes this observation.
Solution:
Since the leading coefficient is 1, any rational zero must be
a divisor of the constant term 2.
=0
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d
=4
=4
=0
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Example 2 – Finding Rational Zeros
Write the polynomial P(x) = 2x3 + x2 – 13x + 6 in factored
form, and find all its zeros.
Solution:
By the Rational Zeros Theorem the rational zeros of P are
of the form
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, 6, and the factors of 2 are
1, 2. Thus, the possible rational zeros of P are
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
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Descartes’ Rule of Signs
To describe this rule, we need the concept of variation in
sign.
For example,
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Example 3 – Using Descartes’ Rule
Use Descartes’ Rule of Signs to determine the possible
number of positive and negative real zeros of the
polynomial
Solution:
The polynomial has one variation in sign, so it has one
positive zero. Now
P (–x) = 3(–x)6 + 4(–x)5 + 3(–x)3 – (–x) – 3
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Example 3 – Solution cont’d
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Upper and Lower Bounds Theorem
We say that a is a lower bound and b is an upper bound
for the zeros of a polynomial if every real zero c of the
polynomial satisfies a c b.
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Example 4 – Upper and Lower Bounds for Zeros of a Polynomial
Solution:
We divide P (x) by x – 2 and x + 3 using synthetic division:
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Example 4 – Solution cont’d
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Using Algebra and Graphing Devices
to Solve Polynomial Equations
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Example 5 – Solving a Fourth-Degree Equation Graphically
Solution:
To solve the equation graphically, we graph
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
Now we look for a lower bound, trying the numbers –1, –2,
and –3 as potential candidates. We see that –3 is a lower
bound for the solutions:
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Example 5 – Solution cont’d
Figure 3
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The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Complete Factorization
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The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Complete Factorization
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Example 1 – Factoring a Polynomial Completely
Solution:
(a) We first factor P as follows.
Given
P (x) = x – 3x + x – 3
3 2
Group terms
= x2(x – 3) + (x – 3)
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d
= (x – 3)(x2 + 1) Factor x – 3
P (x) = (x – 3)(x2 + 1)
= (x – 3)(x – i) (x + i)
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Zeros and Their Multiplicities
In the Complete Factorization Theorem the numbers
c1, c2, . . . , cn are the zeros of P.
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Zeros and Their Multiplicities
The following table gives further examples of polynomials
with their complete factorizations and zeros.
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Example 2 – Finding Polynomials with Specified Zeros
Solution:
(a) The required polynomial has the form
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
(b) We require
Q(x) = a [x – (–2)]3(x – 0)
= a(x + 2)3x
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Example 2 – Solution cont’d
If we use a = 1, we get
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Complex Zeros Come in Conjugate Pairs
As you might have noticed from the examples so far, the
complex zeros of polynomials with real coefficients come in
pairs.
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Example 3 – A Polynomial with a Specified Complex Zero
Solution:
Since 3 – i is a zero, then so is 3 + i by the Conjugate
Zeros Theorem. This means that P (x) must have the
following form.
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Example 3 – Solution cont’d
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Example 4 – Factoring a Polynomial into Linear and Quadratic Factors
Solution:
(a) P (x) = x4 + 2x2 – 8
= (x2 – 2)(x2 + 4)
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Example 4 – Solution cont’d
= (x – )(x + )(x2 + 4)