Evaluate a Polynomial Using Synthetic Substitution - Pre-Calculus

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Question

Using synthetic division determine which of these is a factor of the polynomial .

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Answer

Synthetic division is a short cut for doing long division of polynomials and it can only be used when divifing by divisors of the form . The result or quoitient of such a division will either divide evenly or have a remainder. If there is no remainder, then the "" is said to be a factor of the polynomial. The polynomial must be in standard form (descending degree) and if a degree is skipped such as it must be accounted for by a "place holder".

         __ __ __

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where is the remainder.

While doing the long division we add vertically and we multiply diagonally by k. The empty lines represent places we put the sums and products. Notice that after the first term in the top row there is a 0; this is the place holder. This is because the degrees in the polynomial skipped. When the new coefficients have been found always rewrite starting with one order lower than the highest degree of the original polynomial.

Use synthetic division to verify each factor of the form . Lets start with .

Two goes into 6 three times resulting in:

                                            

From here we see will give you a remainder of zero and is therefore a factor of the polynomial .

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