Lesson 2 Summary

 

In this lesson you learned how to factor polynomials of degree 3 or higher. You learned

• polynomial long division
  
• the remainder theorem: when a polynomial in x, P(x), is divided by a binomial of the form x − a, the remainder will be P(a)
• the factor theorem: x − a is a factor of a polynomial in x, P(x), if and only if P(a) = 0

• the integral zero theorem: if x − a is a factor of a polynomial function P(x) with integral coefficients, then a is a factor of the constant term of P(x)

In the next lesson you will learn to solve polynomial equations. You will relate solutions to equations to the factors of polynomials and x-intercepts of their graphs.

 

Adapted from Pre-Calculus 12. Whitby, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011. Reproduced with permission.