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'factor theorem'
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| Title of object: |
factor theorem |
| Canonical Name: |
FactorTheorem |
| Type: |
Theorem |
| Created on: |
2002-02-04 01:43:49-05 |
| Modified on: |
2002-05-25 21:22:47-04 |
| Classification: |
msc:12D05, msc:12D10 |
| Synonyms: |
factor theorem=root theorem |
Revision comment (for changes between this and next version):
| Changes for correction #1972 ('shouldnt it always be (x+1)?'). |
Preamble:
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Content:
If $f(x)$ is a polynomial, then $x-a$ is a factor if and only if $a$ is a root (that is, $f(a)=0$).
This theorem is of great help for finding factorizations of higher order polynomials. As example, let us think that we need to factor the polynomial $p(x)=x^3+3x^2-33x-35$. With some help of the rational root theorem we can find that $x=-1$ is a root (that is, $p(-1)=0$), so we know $(x-1)$ must be a factor of the polynomial. We can write then
$$p(x)=(x-1)q(x)$$
where the polynomial $q(x)$ can be found using long or synthetic division of $p(x)$ between $x-1$. Some calculations show us that for the example $q(x)=x^2+2x-35$ which can be easily factored as $(x-5)(x+7)$. We conclude that
$$p(x)=(x+1)(x-5)(x+7).$$ |
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