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(a) p ( x) = x 2 + x - 30 (b) p ( x) = 4 x 2 + 5 x - 6
2. How did you decide which numbers to try as factors? Did you use the Factor Theorem? How would you extend your
thinking to factor higher order polynomials?
4. When the zeros are all integers it is easy to use the calculator, but if they are not all integers it is hard to tell if it factors or
if the solutions are irrational, (i.e. one of the factors is a quadratic that can’t be reduced further using only integer
coefficients)
The polynomial equation 3 x 3 + 5 x 2 - 26 x + 8 = 0 has a solution which is not an integer, but it is a rational number. To
use your calculator to help you find the solutions in such a case, set the xscl to 1/3. (Why would we do this?) Set the
window to:
Xmin = -5 Ymin = -20
Xmax = 5 Ymax = 60
Xscl = 1/3 Yscl = 1
1
If we look at the graph we see that it crosses the x-axis one notch to the right at x = , six notches to the right at x = 2 ,
3
twelve notches to the left at x = -4 .
Write this equation in factored form and prove the factoring works.
/conversion/tmp/scratch/436392072.doc
p
6. If x = is a zero of a polynomial then (qx-p) is a factor of the polynomial. Why is this?
q
7. Use the rational roots theorem and the factor theorem to factor the following polynomials (you may use your calculator as
much as you like).
If a polynomial p(x) is divided by a linear binomial ( x - c ) the remainder will always be p(c).
8. Perform the following divisions and then evaluate p(c) in each case to satisfy yourself of the truth of this theorem:
/conversion/tmp/scratch/436392072.doc