2.

3 The Factor Theorem

1. State a possible factored form equation for each function described below, where each is a degree 3
polynomial function with all zeros listed.
(a) / −2 = 0, / 1 = 0, and / 5 = 0

(b) " −2 = 0, " −3/2 = 0, and " 1 = 0

(c) $ −4 = 0, $ 5/2 = 0, and $ 0 = 0

2. Use the factor theorem to determine whether − 1 is a factor of each of the following polynomial functions:
(a) = # +9 + 15 − 25

(b) = B + # −8 −8

#
(c) =3 −2 −5 +4

B #
(d) =3 −5 − 12 + 12 + 16

(e) = # −3 +3 −1

3. Use the factor theorem to determine whether + 3 is a factor of each of the following polynomial functions:

(a) /( ) = # − −6

(b) !( ) = # − 19 − 30

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 Chapter 2 – Polynomial Functions

4. For each of the polynomial expressions below, use an algebraic process described on the previous pages to
fully factor.
# # −4 − 11 − 6
(a) +3 − 4 − 12 (b)

(c) 4# − 274 + 10 (d) 3e# + 2e − 7e + 2

Step-by-step solutions, along with videos and additional practice exams, can be found at math30-1edge.com
1. (a) 5 * = (* + 1)(* − 7)(* − 0) (b) 8 * = (1* + ;)(* + 1)(* − 7) (c) + * = *(1* − 0)(* + 2)
2. (a) − 1 is a factor if ( # +9 + 15 − 25) Y ( − 1) gives no remainder.
Evaluate (1)# +9 1 + 15 1 − 25 …. which is 0. As such, we have shown that YES, − 1 is a factor!
Use a similar process for the (b), (c), (d), and (e), substitute “1” to see if you get no remainder (that is, ZERO).
(b) No (c) Yes (d) No (e) Yes
3. (a) Evaluate /(−3) to get −3 #
− −3 − 6(−3), which is −18 (NOT “0”), so − 3 is NOT a factor.
(b) Evaluate !(−3) to get −3 #
− 19 −3 − 30, which IS “0”, so − 3 IS a factor.

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2.3 The Factor Theorem

5. Use the factor theorem to determine whether 3 − 2 is a factor of each of the following polynomial
functions:
# (b) "( ) = 3 B +4 # −9 − 18 − 8
(a) !( ) = 3 +7 −4

6. Use an algebraic process described on the previous pages to solve each of the following equations. Verify
your roots graphically using technology.
# B #
(a) 4 − − 11 − 6 = 0 (b) − + + 9 − 10 = 0

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

4. (a) ( + 2)( − 2)( + 3) (b) " = ( + 1) ( − 6) (c) (4 − 5)(4 + 54 − 2)
(d) (3e − 1)(e + 2)(e − 1)

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 Chapter 2 – Polynomial Functions

7. (i) Fully factor each function below, using an algebraic process. Then, (ii) state the zeros of each function, as
exact values (simplified radical form) where necessary. Finally, (iii) label the coordinates of the *-intercepts
on the graph to the right.
(a) / = B −7 −6

(b) ! B #
=2 − 11 + 11 + 24 − 36

(c) " = B +8 # +9 − 28 − 30

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

5. (a) Yes – show that !(2⁄3) is equal to 0. 3 2⁄3 #
+ 7 2⁄3 − 4  = 3(8⁄27) + 7 4⁄9 − 4  = 0 
(b) No – use a similar process to above to show that "(2⁄3) is NOT equal to 0.
6. (a) = − 3⁄4 , −1, and 2 (b) = −2 and 1
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2.3 The Factor Theorem

8. (a) Fully factor the function 5 * = *2 + 1*; − *1 − 7?* − =, using an algebraic process.
Then, (b) state the roots of the equation / = 0.

9. NR For the polynomial function 5 * = *0 + @*2 − 2?*1 + ;1*, two of the zeros are −4 and 1.
The largest zero of /( ), when expressed as a fully simplified radical, is: T( U − V),
 Exam
Style
The values of Q, R, and S, are, respectively, ________, ________, and _______.
first digit of ans. second digit third digit

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

7. (a) i / = ( + 2)( + 1)( − 3) ii zeros are: = −1, −7, ?, and ; iii x-ints match zeros, label coords on graph
(b) i ! = − 2 ( − 3)(2 + 3) ii zeros are: = −;/1, 1, and ;
(c) i " = ( + 3)( + 1)( + 4 − 10) ii zeros are: = −;, −7, −1 − 72 and −1 + 72
Quadratic doesn’t factor, so use quad formula to obtain exact roots.
For iii, label x-intercepts left to right as: −1 − 72 , ? , −;, ? , −7, ? , and (1 + 72 , ?)

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 Chapter 2 – Polynomial Functions

10. The volume of water than can fit in a rectangular aquarium is given as ` * = *; + 7?*1 + ;7* + ;?.
Use an algebraic method to determine expressions for the dimensions of the tank, in terms of , given that
the greatest dimension is the width and the lowest the length.

o r

11. NR The volume of a rectangular prism can be expressed as `(*) = 1*; + 0*1 − * − 3.
The dimensions of the prism can be expressed as shown
 Exam
Style
in the diagram. ℎ=*−q
The values of Q, R, S, and ], are respectively,
_____ , _____, _____, and _____. 9 =*+V
n = T* + U

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

8. (a) / = ( − 2)( + 1)( + 3 + 4) (b) = −1, 2 9. 1;7
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2.3 The Factor Theorem

12. One of the zeros of the polynomial function 5 * = *2 + -*; − *1 − 73* − 71 is = −2. Use an
algebraic process to determine the factored form of /( ).

13. The graph of a polynomial function 5 * = 1*2 − 7;*; + 2*1 + -* − 71 has an -intercept
at (−3/2, 0) as shown.
8(*)
(a) Algebraically determine the value of ,.

;
(− , ?)
1

(b) Use an algebraic process to determine

the factored form of /( ).

(c) Determine the remaining -intercepts

of /( ), expressed as exact values.
Label each on the graph above.

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

10. width: + 5 length + 2 height +3 11. 1;17

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 Chapter 2 – Polynomial Functions

14. A function ) * = (2* + ;)(* + 1)(* − ;) is transformed to = $( ), where $ = !(0.25 − 1).

Determine the zeros of = $( ).

15. A function 8 * = 1*; − 0*1 − 72* − ; has one rational zero equal to −3/2. Use an algebraic process to
determine the simplified radical form of the remaining two irrational zeros.

16. Two of the roots of the equation =*0 − =*2 − 1=*; − @*1 + -* = ? are = 5/2 and = −1.
Use an algebraic process to determine the remaining roots of the equation, where applicable in simplified
radical form.

Answers to Practice Questions on the previous page

12. / = ( + 3)( + 2)( + 1)( − 2) 3 (2, 0)
(− , 0)
2
13. (a) , = 34
(b) /( ) = (2 + 3)( − 2)( − 6 + 2) (3 − 7, 0)
(3 + 7, 0)

(c) = −3/2, 2, 3 − 7, 3 + 7

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2.3 The Factor Theorem

17. Which of the following binomials is a factor of 3 B −4 # − 23 + 44 − 12?

A. ( − 3)
 Exam
Style
B. ( + 2)
C. (3 − 1)
D. (3 + 1)

18. NR When 6 # + 19 + 11 − 6 is divided by Q − R; where Q, R ∈ s, the remainder is zero.

 Exam
Style
The values of Q and R are, respectively, ____ and ____.

19. The largest zero of the function ! B #

NR = +4 −4 − 16 + 15 is Q − R.
 Exam
Style
The values of Q and R are, respectively, ____ and ____.

Answers from the previous page and this page

−1 − 5 5−1
14. −4, 1 and 16 15. 2 − 5 and 2 + 5 16. = 0, , and
4 4

17. C 18. 31 19. 61

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