Difference between revisions of "Factor Theorem"

Revision as of 15:28, 9 February 2008

The Factor Theorem is a theorem relating to polynomials

Theorem

If $P(x)$ is a polynomial, then $x-a$ is a factor $P(x)$ iff $P(a)=0$ .

Proof

If $x - a$ is a factor of $P(x)$ , then $P(x) = (x - a)Q(x)$ , where $Q(x)$ is a polynomial with $\deg(Q(x)) = \deg(P(x)) - 1$ . Then $P(a) = (a - a)Q(a) = 0$ .

Now suppose that $P(a) = 0$ .

Apply division algorithm to get $P(x) = (x - a)Q(x) + R(x)$ , where $Q(x)$ is a polynomial with $\deg(Q(x)) = \deg(P(x)) - 1$ and $R(x)$ is the remainder polynomial such that $0\le\deg(R(x)) < \deg(x - a) = 1$ .

This means that $R(x)$ can be at most a constant polynomial.

Substitute $x = a$ and get $P(a) = (a - a)Q(a) + R(a) = 0\Rightarrow R(a) = 0$ .

But $R(x)$ is a constant polynomial and so $R(x) = 0$ for all $x$ .

Therefore, $P(x) = (x - a)Q(x)$ , which shows that $x - a$ is a factor of $P(x)$ .

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 Apply division [[algorithm]] to get <math>P(x) = (x - a)Q(x) + R(x)</math>, where <math>Q(x)</math> is a polynomial with <math>\deg(Q(x)) = \deg(P(x)) - 1</math> and <math>R(x)</math> is the [[remainder polynomial]] such that <math>0\le\deg(R(x)) < \deg(x - a) = 1</math>.
-This means that <math>R(x)</math> can be at most a [[constant polynomial]].
+This means that <math>R(x)</math> can be at most a [[constant]] polynomial.
 Substitute <math>x = a</math> and get <math>P(a) = (a - a)Q(a) + R(a) = 0\Rightarrow R(a) = 0</math>.

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Difference between revisions of "Factor Theorem"

Revision as of 15:28, 9 February 2008

Contents

Theorem

Proof

Problems

See also