By the end of this handout, your goal is to understand and be able to do the

following from your orange sheet:

Standard 3A: Determine if a given binomial is a factor of a polynomial; if
so, completely factor the polynomial.
The good news is you should have already learned the skills you need to be able to
do this. Lets take a little stroll down memory lane:

STOP#1: REMAINDER THEOREM (use it to decide if a

binomial is a factor).

Remind yourself: what is the connection between the REMAINDER and if something
is a FACTOR? Also remind yourself of how you can use the remainder theorem to
find the remainder.
Need more of a reminder? Go here for a video:
Apply it to these problems:
a) Determine if the binomial

x3

b) Determine if the binomial

x+ 1 is a factor of

is a factor of

x +3 x + x3 .

x 32 x 213 x10 .

STOP#2: DIVIDE POLYNOMIALS

Remind yourself how to divide two polynomials. Look back in your notes. Help each
other. If you need more of a reminder, go here for a video:
Divide the following polynomials:
a)

(x 2+5 x7)

b)

(x 32 x2 13 x10)

by

(3 x+1)

by

( x+ 1)

STOP#3: FACTOR POLYNOMIALS

Weve been doing lots and lots of factoring. Hopefully this is becoming a strength. If
it is not, the best solution truly is more practice.
Need a slow walkthrough of the basic box method?
Then try the following to practice from your yellow sheets:
Practice 9-5: #35-37

Practice 9-6: #24-26

Stop #4: Now lets put all these

pieces together!
Tony and Sasha are at a math party, and the following problem is thrown their way:
Determine if the given binomial
3

x2

is a factor of the polynomial

x x 14 x +24 . If so, factor completely.

Tony: Whoa. This is a lot. I dont even know where to begin!
Sasha: Well, the first sentence is just remainder theorem. When we plug in 2 for x,
we get 0. This tells us its a factor.
Tony: But what does that even MEAN that its a factor?
Sasha: Think about numbers first. 5 is a factor of 20 because
Sasha continues: So in this case, since

x 3x 214 x +24 , that means

x2

5 4=20 .

is a factor of the polynomial

3
2
( x2) ???) x x 14 x+ 24 . So how could we

find that other factor?

Tony: WellI guess we know

(x2) times the mystery factor gives us that

polynomialso working backwards, would we divide?

Sasha: Way to go, Tony! Lets make our box to divide: [You practice this on your
own paper & check with Tonys answer.]

Tony: Ok, now weve divided and got

x 2+ x12

but the problem asks us to factor

the polynomial completely. What does that mean?

Sasha: Lets just factor this last part:

x + x12

[You practice this on your own

do a box again.]
Tony: Now I see. All the factors of

x 3x 214 x +24

would be

( x2)(x+ 4)( x3) !

Now for you to practice on your own.

1. Determine if the binomial

x+ 2 is a factor of the given polynomial. If so, factor

the polynomial completely.

a)

x 38 x 2+17 x10

2. Determine if the binomial

b)

x1

x 34 x 24 x +16

is a factor of the given polynomial. If so, factor

the polynomial completely.

a)

x 38 x 2+17 x10

b)

x 34 x 24 x +16

Preview for down the road: Think about how this would
look on a graph. What do you know about the graph of the
polynomial in 2a above? Draw a really rough sketch of
what you think. Well discuss how you can know more
specifics later this unit.