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The first step in any factoring problem is to factor out the GCF of the terms.
2 x 4 ! 6 x 3 ! 8 x 2 = 2 x 2 " ( x 2 ! 3 x ! 4)
The next step is to factor "what's left". For the final, the only types of factoring
you will need to do (after factoring out the GCF) are the following:
ex x 2 ! 3 x ! 4 = ( x ! 4)( x + 1)
ex 4 x 2 ! 9 = (2 x ! 3)(2 x + 3)
ex To factor x 3 + 2 x 2 ! 9 x ! 18 :
We studing Long Division and Synthetic Division. Long Division is not on the
final exam..Synthetic Division is. Synthetic Division only works if dividing a
polynomial by a divisor that looks like x ! k or x + k .
ex. Divide 3 x 3 ! 4 x 2 + x ! 5 by x ! 2
R = 5 and Q = 3 x 2 + 2 x + 5
4. Divide the following using synthetic division. Identify the quotient and remainder.
(a) x 3 ! 7 x 2 ! 5 x + 75 by x + 3 (b) 3 x 3 ! 12 x + 1 by x ! 2
Step1 Divide x 3 ! 7 x 2 ! 5 x + 75 by x + 3 .
You did this 4(a). You should have gotten: R=0 and Q = x2 – 10x + 25.
So x 3 ! 7 x 2 ! 5 x + 75 = ( x + 3)( x 2 ! 10 x + 25)
Step1 This step is the same as above. Use synthetic division to write:
x 3 ! 7 x 2 ! 5 x + 75 = ( x + 3)( x 2 ! 10 x + 25)
Step2 Either
x 3 ! 7 x 2 ! 5 x + 75 = ( x + 3)( x ! 5)( x ! 5)
• Or…use the quadratic formula to find the zeros of the polynomial in parenthesis
(a) y = ( x ! 2) 4 + 5