Degree of Polynomials The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree for a term. The degree of a term is the sum of the powers of each variable in the term. The word degree has for some decades been favoured in standard textbooks. In some older books, the word order is used. For e.g.- The polynomial 3 — 5x + 2x‘ — 7x’ has degree 9.You can classify a polynomial by the number of terms it contains. A polynomial of more than three terms does not usually have a special name. You can also classily a polynomial by its degree. The degree of a polynomial is the greatest degree of any term of the polynomial. The name assigned to each degree is listed below. Name Using Polynomial Number Name Using Degree Degree Example of Terms Number of Terms 0 constant 6 1 monomial 1 linear Oech 2 binomial 2 | quadratic | 3x? 1 monomial 3 | cubic 2x3 — 5x? — 2x 3 | trinomial 4 | quartic | x4 + 3x? 2 | binomial S| quimtic —2x543x2-x+4] 4 | polynomial of 4 termsFactoring Polynomials of Higher Degree e To review: What is the remainder when you divide 8 — 4x? —7x + 10 by x-2? 7 Quotient ra x ag \ Divisor — 2x? -7x+10 Dividend = 2x? + 4x —Lly+10 —Ilv+ 22 -12 Remainderi 3 i a a. ii 7 usd ey se . @ The Remainder Theorem If a polynomial f(x) is divided by (x — a), the remainder is the constant f(a), and f(x) = q(x) - (x — a) + f(a) where q(x) is a polynomial with degree one less than the degree of f(x). Dividend equals quotient times divisor plus remainder. f nT? eRe Se ° >Factoring Polynomials of Higher Degree Remainder Theorem: If a polynomial p(x) is divided by the binomial x — a, the remainder obtained is p(a). So, looking at our example, if p(x) = x° -— 4x¢ - 7x + 10 was divided by x — 2, the remainder can be determined by finding p(2). p(x) = x8 — 4x? - 7x +10 p(2) = (2)? - 4(2)?— 7(2) + 10 =8-16-14+10 =-12Factor Theorem Factor Theorem is a special case of remainder theorem. Factor Theorem rr if f(-]=0, then ms-+m is a factor of the polynomial F(x). ) Conversely, han if mx+n is a factor of the polynomial f(x), then al is n mm Example Determine which of the following (i) x-l, (i) x+2 3 4 isa factor of 3x —x" -12x+4, 3 2 J Hence factorize 3a" —x° —12x+4 completely.The factor theorem The Factor Theorem states that if f(a) = 0 fora polynomial then (x- a) is a factor of the polynomial f(x). Example fl) =? +x-6 fix) = +x-6= (x +3)(x- 2) fl-3) = (-3P + (-3) - 6 = 9-6-6=0 f(2) =2?+2-6= 4+2 -6=0 Since f(-3) =0 => (x+3) isa factor of f(x) =x? +x-6 Since f(2) =0 => (x-2)isa factor of f(x) =x? +x-6The Factor Theorem e.g. Factorise fully x? -2x? 45x48 Solution: We use the factor theorem to find one linear factor: Let f(x)=x3 —2n7 45x48 We could try any of x=+1, +2, +4. +8 fd)=1-24+54+8=12 40 = (x1) is not a factor f(-1) =-1-2-548=0 => (x+1) is a factor So, x° —2x? +5x+8 = (x+1)x( quadratic factor ) The quadratic factor can be found by inspection. x8 -2n? 45x 48=(x41)(x7-3 x +8 ) In this example the quadratic factor has no linear factors.[6] The Factor Theorem If P is a polynomial and P() = 0, then x — b is a factor of P(x). EXAMPLE 8 Factor x? — 3x> — 10x + 24. SOLUTION Let P(x) = x? — 3x* — 10x + 24. If P(b) = 0, where b is an integer, then b is a factor of 24. Thus, the possibilities for b are +1, +2, +3, +4, +6, +8, +12, and +24. ‘We find that P(1) = 12, P(—1) = 30, P(2) = 0. By the Factor Theorem, x — 2 is a factor. Instead of substituting further, we use long division as follows: eo x - 12 x 2)x°— 3x7 — 10x +24 x= 2x7 =x? = 10x =x + Ox = 12x +24 = 12x +24 Therefore x? — 3x? — 10x + 24 = (x — 2)(x? — x - 12) = (x= Ye + 3)(e- 4) .(stp | Given that 2— 2 — 2? is a factor of p(x) (srpa | ‘The polynomial p(r) = ha* + ka* + 2x — 1, where h and & are constants, leaves a remainder of 4 when divided by e—1, and a remainder of —2 when divided by + 1. (a) Determine the values of h and k. {2 marks) (b) Express the polynomial p(2) in the form (2? — 1)q() + r(x), where q(z) is quadratic and r(x) is linear. [4 marks} [Anewer: (a) h = 2,4 =1; (b) (2? — 1)(Q2? +¢42) +(3r+1); (srPat | ‘The polynomial p(:r) = ax* + bs? — dr +3, where a and b are constants, has a factor (© +1). When p(x) is divided by (x — 2), it leaves a remainder of —9. (a) Find the values of a and b, and henee, factorise p(2r) completely. 16 marks] [Answer: (a) a = 2,b = —5, (@ — 3)(2e—1)(e +1)