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Study Guides > College Algebra

Theorems Used to Analyze Polynomial Functions

Learning Objectives

  • Use the remainder theorem to evaluate a polynomial at a specific x-value
  • Use the rational zeros theorem to find rational zeros of a polynomial
  • Use the Factor Theorem to solve a polynomial equation
In the last section, we learned how to divide polynomials. We can now use polynomial division to evaluate polynomials using the Remainder Theorem. If the polynomial is divided by x – k, the remainder may be found quickly by evaluating the polynomial function at k, that is, f(k) Let’s walk through the proof of the theorem. Recall that the Division Algorithm states that, given a polynomial dividend f(x) and a non-zero polynomial divisor d(x) where the degree of d(x) is less than or equal to the degree of f(x), there exist unique polynomials q(x) and r(x) such that

[latex]f\left(x\right)=d\left(x\right)q\left(x\right)+r\left(x\right)[/latex]

If the divisor, d(x), is x – k, this takes the form

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x-k\right)q\left(x\right)+r[/latex]

Since the divisor x – k is linear, the remainder will be a constant, r. And, if we evaluate this for x = k, we have

[latex]\begin{array}{l}f\left(k\right)=\left(k-k\right)q\left(k\right)+r\hfill \\ \text{ }=0\cdot q\left(k\right)+r\hfill \\ \text{ }=r\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

In other words, f(k) is the remainder obtained by dividing f(x) by x – k.

A General Note: The Remainder Theorem

If a polynomial [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] is divided by x – k, then the remainder is the value [latex]f\left(k\right)[/latex].

How To: Given a polynomial function [latex]f[/latex], evaluate [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] at [latex]x=k[/latex] using the Remainder Theorem.

  1. Use synthetic division to divide the polynomial by [latex]x-k[/latex].
  2. The remainder is the value [latex]f\left(k\right)[/latex].

Example: Using the Remainder Theorem to Evaluate a Polynomial

Use the Remainder Theorem to evaluate [latex]f\left(x\right)=6{x}^{4}-{x}^{3}-15{x}^{2}+2x - 7[/latex] at [latex]x=2[/latex].

Answer: To find the remainder using the Remainder Theorem, use synthetic division to divide the polynomial by [latex]x - 2[/latex].

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\\ 2\overline{)\begin{array}{l}6\hfill & -1\hfill & -15\hfill & 2\hfill & -7\hfill \\ \hfill & 12\hfill & \text{ }22\hfill & 14\hfill & 32\hfill \end{array}}\\ \begin{array}{l}\text{ }6\hfill & 11\hfill & \text{ }7\hfill & \text{16}\hfill & 25\hfill \end{array}\end{array}[/latex]

The remainder is 25. Therefore, [latex]f\left(2\right)=25[/latex].

Analysis of the Solution

We can check our answer by evaluating [latex]f\left(2\right)[/latex].

[latex]\begin{array}{l}f\left(x\right) & =6{x}^{4}-{x}^{3}-15{x}^{2}+2x - 7 \\ f\left(2\right) & =6{\left(2\right)}^{4}-{\left(2\right)}^{3}-15{\left(2\right)}^{2}+2\left(2\right)-7 \\ \hfill & =25\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

Try It

Use the Remainder Theorem to evaluate [latex]f\left(x\right)=2{x}^{5}-3{x}^{4}-9{x}^{3}+8{x}^{2}+2[/latex] at [latex]x=-3[/latex].

Answer: [latex]4{x}^{2}-8x+15-\frac{78}{4x+5}[/latex]

Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find rational zeros

Another use for the Remainder Theorem is to test whether a rational number is a zero for a given polynomial. But first we need a pool of rational numbers to test. The Rational Zero Theorem helps us to narrow down the number of possible rational zeros using the ratio of the factors of the constant term and factors of the leading coefficient of the polynomial Consider a quadratic function with two zeros, [latex]x=\frac{2}{5}[/latex] and [latex]x=\frac{3}{4}[/latex]. By the Factor Theorem, these zeros have factors associated with them. Let us set each factor equal to 0, and then construct the original quadratic function absent its stretching factor. This image shows x minus two fifths equals 0 or x minus three fourths equals 0. Beside this math is the sentence, 'Set each factor equal to 0.' Next it shows that five x minus 2 equals 0 or 4 x minus 3 equals 0. Beside this math is the sentence, 'Multiply both sides of the equation to eliminate fractions.' Next it shows that f of x is equal to (5 x minus 2) times (4 x minus 3). Beside this math is the sentence, 'Create the quadratic function, multiplying the factors.' Next it shows f of x equals 20 x squared minus 23 x plus 6. Beside this math is the sentence, 'Expand the polynomial.' The last equation shows f of x equals (5 times 4) times x squared minus 23 x plus (2 times 3). Set each factor equal to zero. Multiply both sides of the equation to eliminate fractions. Create the quadratic function, multiplying the factors. Expand the polynomial. Notice that two of the factors of the constant term, 6, are the two numerators from the original rational roots: 2 and 3. Similarly, two of the factors from the leading coefficient, 20, are the two denominators from the original rational roots: 5 and 4. We can infer that the numerators of the rational roots will always be factors of the constant term and the denominators will be factors of the leading coefficient. This is the essence of the Rational Zero Theorem; it is a means to give us a pool of possible rational zeros.

A General Note: The Rational Zero Theorem

The Rational Zero Theorem states that, if the polynomial [latex]f\left(x\right)={a}_{n}{x}^{n}+{a}_{n - 1}{x}^{n - 1}+...+{a}_{1}x+{a}_{0}[/latex] has integer coefficients, then every rational zero of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] has the form [latex]\frac{p}{q}[/latex] where p is a factor of the constant term [latex]{a}_{0}[/latex] and q is a factor of the leading coefficient [latex]{a}_{n}[/latex]. When the leading coefficient is 1, the possible rational zeros are the factors of the constant term.

How To: Given a polynomial function [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], use the Rational Zero Theorem to find rational zeros.

  1. Determine all factors of the constant term and all factors of the leading coefficient.
  2. Determine all possible values of [latex]\frac{p}{q}[/latex], where p is a factor of the constant term and q is a factor of the leading coefficient. Be sure to include both positive and negative candidates.
  3. Determine which possible zeros are actual zeros by evaluating each case of [latex]f\left(\frac{p}{q}\right)[/latex].

Example: Listing All Possible Rational Zeros

List all possible rational zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)=2{x}^{4}-5{x}^{3}+{x}^{2}-4[/latex].

Answer: The only possible rational zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] are the quotients of the factors of the last term, –4, and the factors of the leading coefficient, 2. The constant term is –4; the factors of –4 are [latex]p=\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 4[/latex]. The leading coefficient is 2; the factors of 2 are [latex]q=\pm 1,\pm 2[/latex]. If any of the four real zeros are rational zeros, then they will be of one of the following factors of –4 divided by one of the factors of 2.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\frac{p}{q}=\pm \frac{1}{1},\pm \frac{1}{2}\text{ }& \frac{p}{q}=\pm \frac{2}{1},\pm \frac{2}{2}\text{ }& \frac{p}{q}=\pm \frac{4}{1},\pm \frac{4}{2}\end{array}[/latex]

Note that [latex]\frac{2}{2}=1[/latex] and [latex]\frac{4}{2}=2[/latex], which have already been listed. So we can shorten our list.

[latex]\frac{p}{q}=\frac{\text{Factors of the last}}{\text{Factors of the first}}=\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 4,\pm \frac{1}{2}[/latex]

Example: Using the Rational Zero Theorem to Find Rational Zeros

Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find the rational zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)=2{x}^{3}+{x}^{2}-4x+1[/latex].

Answer: The Rational Zero Theorem tells us that if [latex]\frac{p}{q}[/latex] is a zero of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], then p is a factor of 1 and q is a factor of 2.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\frac{p}{q}=\frac{\text{factor of constant term}}{\text{factor of leading coefficient}}\hfill \\ \text{ }=\frac{\text{factor of 1}}{\text{factor of 2}}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The factors of 1 are [latex]\pm 1[/latex] and the factors of 2 are [latex]\pm 1[/latex] and [latex]\pm 2[/latex]. The possible values for [latex]\frac{p}{q}[/latex] are [latex]\pm 1[/latex] and [latex]\pm \frac{1}{2}[/latex]. These are the possible rational zeros for the function. We can determine which of the possible zeros are actual zeros by substituting these values for x in [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex].

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\text{ }f\left(-1\right)=2{\left(-1\right)}^{3}+{\left(-1\right)}^{2}-4\left(-1\right)+1=4\hfill \\ \text{ }f\left(1\right)=2{\left(1\right)}^{3}+{\left(1\right)}^{2}-4\left(1\right)+1=0\hfill \\ \text{ }f\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)=2{\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)}^{3}+{\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)}^{2}-4\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)+1=3\hfill \\ \text{ }f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=2{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}^{3}+{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}^{2}-4\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)+1=-\frac{1}{2}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

Of those, [latex]-1,-\frac{1}{2},\text{ and }\frac{1}{2}[/latex] are not zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex]. 1 is the only rational zero of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex].

Try It

Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find the rational zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}-5{x}^{2}+2x+1[/latex].

Answer: [latex]3{x}^{2}-4x+1[/latex]

Use the Factor Theorem to solve a polynomial equation

The Factor Theorem is another theorem that helps us analyze polynomial equations. It tells us how the zeros of a polynomial are related to the factors. Recall that the Division Algorithm tells us

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x-k\right)q\left(x\right)+r[/latex].

If k is a zero, then the remainder r is [latex]f\left(k\right)=0[/latex] and [latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x-k\right)q\left(x\right)+0[/latex] or [latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x-k\right)q\left(x\right)[/latex]. Notice, written in this form, x – k is a factor of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex]. We can conclude if k is a zero of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], then [latex]x-k[/latex] is a factor of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex]. Similarly, if [latex]x-k[/latex] is a factor of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], then the remainder of the Division Algorithm [latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x-k\right)q\left(x\right)+r[/latex] is 0. This tells us that k is a zero. This pair of implications is the Factor Theorem. As we will soon see, a polynomial of degree n in the complex number system will have n zeros. We can use the Factor Theorem to completely factor a polynomial into the product of n factors. Once the polynomial has been completely factored, we can easily determine the zeros of the polynomial.

A General Note: The Factor Theorem

According to the Factor Theorem, k is a zero of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] if and only if [latex]\left(x-k\right)[/latex] is a factor of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex].

How To: Given a factor and a third-degree polynomial, use the Factor Theorem to factor the polynomial.

  1. Use synthetic division to divide the polynomial by [latex]\left(x-k\right)[/latex].
  2. Confirm that the remainder is 0.
  3. Write the polynomial as the product of [latex]\left(x-k\right)[/latex] and the quadratic quotient.
  4. If possible, factor the quadratic.
  5. Write the polynomial as the product of factors.

Example: Using the Factor Theorem to Solve a Polynomial Equation

Show that [latex]\left(x+2\right)[/latex] is a factor of [latex]{x}^{3}-6{x}^{2}-x+30[/latex]. Find the remaining factors. Use the factors to determine the zeros of the polynomial.

Answer: We can use synthetic division to show that [latex]\left(x+2\right)[/latex] is a factor of the polynomial. Synthetic division with divisor -2 and quotient {1, 6, -1, 30}. Solution is {1, -8, 15, 0} The remainder is zero, so [latex]\left(x+2\right)[/latex] is a factor of the polynomial. We can use the Division Algorithm to write the polynomial as the product of the divisor and the quotient:

[latex]\left(x+2\right)\left({x}^{2}-8x+15\right)[/latex]

We can factor the quadratic factor to write the polynomial as

[latex]\left(x+2\right)\left(x - 3\right)\left(x - 5\right)[/latex]

By the Factor Theorem, the zeros of [latex]{x}^{3}-6{x}^{2}-x+30[/latex] are –2, 3, and 5.

Try It

Use the Factor Theorem to find the zeros of [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}+4{x}^{2}-4x - 16[/latex] given that [latex]\left(x - 2\right)[/latex] is a factor of the polynomial.

Answer: The zeros are 2, –2, and –4.

Now use Desmos to graph the function [latex]f(x)[/latex]. On the next line, enter [latex]g(x) = \frac{f(x)}{(x-2)}[/latex]. Where does [latex]g(x)[/latex] cross the x-axis? How do those roots compare to the solution we found using the Factor Theorem?

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