Combined Mathematics Polynomials

Polynomials
01. Use the remainder theorem to find the re- (iii) If x  3 is a common factor of
mainder. x 2   2a  1 x  2b and x 2   b  2  x  5a then
(i) x 4  7 x 3  2 x 2  1 ; by  x  1 find a and b .
(ii) x 3  2 x 2  x  12 ; by  x  2  (iv) Show that  x  2  is not a factor of
(iii) x 4  4 x3  12 ; by  x  1 x4  5x2  7 .

(iv) x 3  9 x 2  4a 2 x  83 ; by  x  9  (v) Show that  x  a  b is a factor of

(v) 8 x 3  20 x  3 ; by  2 x  1 x 3  3abx   a 3  b3  .

(vi) 10 x 2  40 x  3 ; by  4 x  1
04. Let f  x   xp  x   1 . When p  x  is divided
(vii) f  x  ; by  x  2 
by  x  1 ,  x  2  , the remainders obtained are
(viii) g  x  ; by  x   
1
(ix) g  x  ; by  x  3 1,  respectively. Show that  x  1 ,  x  2 
2
(x) R  x  ; by  x  1 are factors of f  x  .

02. (i) When 2 x 3  5 x 2  kx  12 is divided by 05. (i) Show that  x  2  is a factor of

 x  2 the remainder obtained is 20 , find k . x3  5 x 2  4 x  4 .
(ii) When x 3  5 x 2  ax  b is divided by (ii) Show that  x  1 is a factor of
 x  1 ,  x  2  the remainders obtained are 9, 29 . 5x7  6 x4  8x  7 .
Find a, b . (iii) Show that  x  1 is a factor of
(iii) When x  ax  bx  c is divided by
3 2
x2  4x  5 .
 x  1 ,  x  1 ,  x  2  the remainders obtained (iv) Show that  x  a  is a factor of
are 0, 2,3 respectively.. Find a, b, c . 2 x 3  5ax 2  7 a 2 x  4a 3 .
(iv) When 2 x 3  kx 2  5 x  6 is divided by
 x  1 the remainder obtained is 06. (i) Show that  x  1 is not a factor of
5 ' Find k .
(v) a , b are constants and b  0 ' x 4  5 x3  1 .

Let f  x   x 2  ax  b ' The remainder obtained (ii) Show that  x  2  is not a factor of
7 x3  6 x 2  2 .
when f  x  is divided by  x  b  is the same when

divided  x  2b  , Find the values of b .

07. (i) Find the remainder when
x4  2 x3  9 x2  7 x  8 ;  x 2  2 .
03. (i) If  x  2  is a factor of 5 x 3  9 x 2  kx  12
then find k . (ii) Find the remainder when x 6  4 x 5  x 2  x ;

(ii) If  x  2  is a factor of x 2
 1 .

x 2  kx   k 2 1 then find k .

(iii) Find the remainder when x 4  5 x 3  7 x 2  1
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 Combined Mathematics Polynomials
show that  x  1 is a factor of 3 x 3  7 x 2  5 x  1 .
2
;  x 2  5 .
(iv) Find the remainder when
12. (i) Write x 3  3 x 2  7 x  5 as a function of
16 x  8 x  12 x  9 ;  2 x  1 .
3 2 2

(v) Find the remainder  x  1 .

when 27 x 3  81x 2  4 x  1 ;  3 x 2  1 . (ii) Write x 3  8 x 2  10 as a function of  x  1 .
(vi) Find the remainder (iii) Write x 4  3 x  5 as a function of  x  2  .
when Px 3  Qx 2  Rx  S ;  x 2  K 2  .
13' x 2  2 is a factor of x 4  6 x 2  p . Find the
(vii) Find the remainder when 2 x  bx  cx  7 3 2
constant p. Hence, find the factors of
;  x2  k 2  . x4  6x2  p .

08. (i) When 7 x 4  5 x 3  ax 2  bx  6 is divided 14' x 2  1 is a factor of x 4  6 x 2  p . Find the

constant p. Hence, find the factors of
 
by x  1 the remainder is 5 x  2 , Find a , b .
2

x4  6x2  p .
(ii) If x 2
 2  is a factor of
15' If the remainder when the function
5 x 4  2 x3  Px 2  Qx  9 , Find P, Q .
f  x   x 4  6 x 2  p is divided by  x 2  2  is 8,
(iii) If x 2
k 2
 is a factor of find the constant p.
 x  3x  5 x   ' Show that   15 .
3 2

16' Show that the remainder when the function

09. (i) Find the remainder f  x   ax 4  bx 3  cx 2  dx  e is divided by
when x 5  7 x 4  6 x 3  2 x  1 is divided by
x 2
 2  is  d  2b  x   4a  2c  e  .
 x  2 .
3

(ii) Find the remainder

17'  x 2  2  is a factor of the expression
when 7 x 6  4 x 5  5 x 2  x  9 is divided by
x 3  Ax 2  Bx  C and when it is divided by
 x3  1 .
 x  2  , the
(iii) If  x 3  1 is a factor of q
remainder is 6. Find A, B, C .
x  ax  bx  cx  7 ' Find a, b, c .
6 5 4 3

18' Find the remainder when the polynomial

10. (i) Find the remainder
f  x  is divided by  x 2  a 2  . Hence if
when 5 x 3  7 x 2  4 x  1 ; x 2  2 x  1 .
(ii) Find the remainder when x 4  5 x 3  4 x 2  8 f  x   x5  kx 2  2 , there is a remainder of
; x2  x  1 . 16 x  12 when f  x  is divided by ( x 2  1) . Find
(iii) If 2 x 4  3 x 3  5 x 2  ax  b can be divided by f  x .
x  x  1 ' Find a , b .
2

11. (i) Using remainder theorem again and again 19' f  x  is a 3rd degree polynomial. There is no

show that  x  1 is a factor of x 3  x 2  5 x  3 '

2
remainder when it is divided by  3 x 2  1 . When
(ii) Using remainder theorem again and again the polynomial is divided by  x  1 , there is a
2

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 Combined Mathematics Polynomials
remainder of 16 x  12 . Find f  x  . 26' The remainders when the quadratic function
f  x  is divided by  x  2  ,  x  1 ,  2 x  1 are
20' Show that  x   P  Q   is a factor of 5, 6, 0 respectively. When g  x  is a 4th degree
x 3  3PQx   P 3  Q 3  . Hence, find the real roots polynomial, f  x  is a factor of g  x  . g  x  has
of x 2  6 x  6  0 . repetitive factors. If the remainder when g  x  is

divided by  x  2  is 3  x  13 , find g  x  .

2
21' By using the remainder theorem repetitively,
show that the remainder when the polynomial
27' The remainder when the polynomial P  x  is
x 2  6 x  6  0 is divided by
divided by  x  1 is 2 and the remainder when
 x  a  x  b  x  c  , is obtained in the form
A  x  b  x  c   B  x  c   C . divided by  x  2  is 3. The remainder when

P  x  is divided by ( x  1)( x  2) is ax  b . Find

22' If  x 2  1 is a factor of a , b . Also, the polynomial P  x  is in the 3rd
f  x   x 4  10 x 2  p , find the value of p. Find all degree and it is given that the coefficient of x 3 is

the factors of f  x  1. If 1 is a root of the equation P  x   0 , find

corresponding to that value of p. Hence, find the the polynomial P  x  and show that there are no
solutions of 2 x 8  20 x 4  18  0 .
any other real roots for the equation P  x   0 .

23' If the function f  x  has a repetitive factor,, 28' i  Find the value of p such that x  p

show that, that factor is a factor of f   x  . Find is a factor of 4 x 3   3 p  2  x 2   p 2  1 x  3 .

the Find the remaining factors of the expression with
remainder when x 3  5 x 2  7 is divided by respect to p.

 x  1
2
.  ii  If a 3  b3  c3  kabc is divisible
by a  b  c , find the value of k.
24' State the factor theorem about the polynomial  iii  The remainders when
expressions. f  x   2 x  x  5 x  3 . The re-
3 2
f  x   ax 3  bx  c is divided by x  2, x  1, x  3
mainder when this polynomial is divided by
are 1, 2 and 4 , respectively. Find the values of
 x  1 is 5. Hence, deduce a factor of f  x   5 .
a, b, c and solve f  x   0 .
Write the polynomial f  x   5 as a product of
linear factors.  iv  If  x  k  is a factor of
2

x3  3 px  q , show that 4 p3  q 2  0 .
25'  x  2  is a factor of the polynomial
2 x 3  3 x 2  ax  60 . Find the value of a and write
down the polynomial as a product of 3 linear
factors. Write the range of values of x over which
the polynomial is not positive.

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 Combined Mathematics Polynomials
29' If ax 3  bx 2  cx  d is divisible by x 2  k 2 37'  x  2  is a factor of the polynomial
a c 2 x 3  3 x 2  cx  60 . Find the value of c and write
without any remainder, show that  .
b d down the
30' Express the expression polynomial as a product of three linear factors.
f  x   3x 3  4 x 2  5 x  2 as a product of 3 linear Find the range of x where the polynomial is not
positive.
factors. Hence, find the solutions of the equation
38' Find the values of A, B, C that satisfies the
3e3 x  4e 2 x  5e x  2  0 " x   .
identity x 4  x 2  x  1   x 2  A  x 2  1  Bx  C .
31' It is given that
Using it, find the remainder when 100010101 is
ax5  2 x3  x 2  b   x 2  1 f  x   x  2 . Here a divided by 9999 .
and b are constants and f  x  is a polynomial.
39' P  x  is a cubic polynomial and the remain-
Find the values of a and b. Find the remainder
der when P  x  is divided by x 2  x  1 is  2 x  3
when the polynomial f  x  is divided by x  2 .
and the remainder when P  x  is divided by
32' The remainder when the polynomial f  x  is
x  x  3 is 5  x  1 . Find P  x  .
divided by  x  1 is 2 and when divided by

 x  2 is 3. Find the remainder when f  x  is 40' P  x  is a cubic polynomial and the remain-

divided by  x  1 x  2  . der when P  x  is divided by x 2  x  1 is  2 x  3 

33' Show that  x  b  c  is a factor of and the remainder when P  x  is divided by

x 3  b  c   x  b3  c 3   b3c  bc 3 . Find its remain- x  x  3 is 5  x  1 . Find P  x  .

ing factors.
41' If q is odd, show that  x P  1 is a factor of
34' f  x  is a 4th degree polynomial of x.
x Pq
 1 . Hence or otherwise, show that three
f  0   12 .  x  2  is a twice repeating factor of
factors of x 21  1 are
f  x  . The remainder when f  x  is divided by
 x  1 ,  x 2  x  1 ,  x 6  x5  x 4  x 3  x 2  x  1 .
x 2
 1 is 6  8x . Find f  x  .
35' g ( x ) is a 4th degree polynomial. It is exactly 42' If both polynomials  x 3  px    and

divisible by  x 2  1 . If the remainder when g ( x )  3x 2

 p  have a common linear factor, show that

is divided by ( x  1)2 ( x  1) is 10 x  6 , find p3 r 2

  0.
27 4
g  x .
43' i  Show that the polynomial
36' f  x   x 4  ax3  bx  c . If f  x  is exactly
4 x 4  12 x 3  25 x 2  24 x  16 is a perfect square of
divisible by  x  1 x  1 x  2  , find the con- a 2nd degree polynomial.
stants a, b, c and also find the remaining factors.  ii 
If x 4  ax 3  bx 2  x  1 is a perfect
Also solve the equation 2 f  x  1  x 2  x  2 . square of a 2nd degree polynomial, show that a  c
a2
and b  2.
4

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 Combined Mathematics Polynomials
44' When p, r are non-zero constants and q is a 49' If  x 2  1 is a factor of
real constant, show that p   r and p  1 are
the necessities for the 2 cubic polynomials f  x   x 4  10 x 2  p , find the value of p. Find all

f  x   x3  px 2  qx  r and the factors of f  x  corresponding to the value of

p. Hence, find the solutions of
g  x   x3  rx 2  qx  p to have a common
2 x 8  20 x 4  18  0 .
quadratic factor. Hence, solve the equations
x 6  9 x 4  x 2  9  0 and 9  x 2  9 x 4  x 6  0 . 50' The polynomial f  x  is a 3rd degree polyno-
mial and it is given that the coefficient of x 3 is. If
45'  x  2  is a factor of the polynomial
1 is a root of the equation f  x   0 , find the
2 x 3  3 x 2  ax  60 . Find the value of a and write
down the polynomial f  x  and show that the equation
polynomial as a product of 3 linear factors. Write
the range of values of x where the polynomial is f  x   0 has no any other real roots. Find the 3rd
not positive. degree polynomial of x such that the remainder
46' i  x2  2
is a factor of x 4  6 x 2  p . Find when divided by x 2  x  2 is  5 x  7  and the
the constant p. Hence, find the factors of remainder when divided by x 2  x  1 is 12 x  1 .
x  6x  p .
4 2

 ii   x  1 is a common factor for both polynomi- Polynomials Past Papers

als x 3  ax 2  b and x 4  ax 3  bx 2  4 . Find a and
01' State and prove the remainder theorem.
b.
While f  x  is a polynomial of x , let
47' When x 3  3 x 3  2 x 3  2 x 2  3 x  1 is a
polynomial function f  x  , f 1  a, f  1  b, f  0   c . Show that when

i  show that  x  1 or ( x  1) are not f  x  is divided by x 2  1 the reaminder is

factors of f  x  . 1 1
 a  b  x   a  b  . Also find the remainder
2 2
 ii  find the remainder when f  x  is
when f  x  is divided by x 3  x .[1963 AL]
divided by  x 2  1 .
02' If the polynomial expression
 iii  show that the remainder when ax 3  bx 2  cx  d is divided by x 2  1 and
f  x  is divided by x 2  1 is 2 and from this, find x 2  4 remainders respectively are

a linear factor of f  x   2 . 5 x  2, 11 x  1 . Find the values a, b, c, d '

[1964 AL]
48' i  f  x   2 x 3  x 2  2 x  k . Here k is
03' Expression x8  2 x 7  ax 2  bx  c can be
a non-zero integer. If  x  k  is a factor of f  x  ,
divided exactly by x 2  x  2 . When the expres-
find the value of k.
sion is divided by x  1 ,remainder is -8. Find
 ii  For this value of k, express f  x 
a, b, c . [1966 AL]
as a product of 2 linear factors.
 iii  Find the values of a, b, c such that

f  x    x  a  2 x  1 x  1  bx  c .

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 Combined Mathematics Polynomials

04' f  x  is a polynomial of x " where k is a 09' f  x   px 4  qx3  rx 2  sx  t .When f  x  is

constant .When f  x  is divided by divided by x 2  a ,Show that the remainder is

x  k ,show that the reaminder is f  k  , when

 s  qa  x  pa 2  ra  t . If  ,  are roots of
f  x   0 ,show that the expression
f  x  is divded by  x  a  x  b  the remander
is px  q . Here a and b are constant such that ps 2  qrs  q 2t  0 can be satisfied with
a  b , Prove p, q, r , s, t . [1984 AL]
f  a   f b af  b   bf  a  10' If  x 2  px  1 is a factor of ax 5  bx 2  c ,
that p  ,q .
a b a b
When f  x   x7  lx  mx  n is divided by x +
Show that  a  c  a  c  bc   a b .
2 2 2 2 2 2

1 and x 2  x the respective remainders are Show that  x  px  1 is a factor cx  bx

2 5 3
a.

2 and x  2 . Find l , m, n . [1967 AL] [1985 AL]

11' If the expression ax 3  bx  c has a factor of
05' p  x  is a polynomial of x ,if p  x  is x 2  px  1 ,Show that a 2  c 2  ab . Show that
divided by  x  a  ,the remainder is R. Show that ax 3  bx  c and cx 3  bx 2  a has a common
factor. [1991AL]
R  p  a  . Hence or otherwise show that the
12' f  x  is a polynomiall function. If
remainder when p  x  is divided by
f  x  x5 3x4  2x3  2x2 3x 1 , show that x  1
p a p b
 x  a  x  b  a  b
is  x  b    x  a and x  1 are not factors of f  x  . Find the
a  b
for a  b ' [1978 AL] remainder when f  x  is divided by x 2  1 , also

06' State the remainder theorem. q is non zero Show that when f  x  is divided by x 2  1 the

integer and f  x   2 x 3  3x 2  3 x  q . If  x  q remainder is 2 and hence find one real root of

f  x  2 . [1997 AL]
is a factor of f  x  ,find the value of q . When
q has this value, express f  x  as a product of 13' When P  x  is a quadratic polynomial and

linear factors. Find values of a, b, c such that divided respectively by  x  1 ,  x  2  ,  x  3

f  x    x  a  2 x  1 x  2   bx  c .[1980 AL] 1 1
the remainders are 1, , .Show that
2 3
07' If n is a odd number , show that the remain-
 x  1 ,  x  2  ,  x  3 are factors given by
der when x n  2 is divided by x 2  1 is x  2 .[1982
AL] Q  x   xP  x   1 . Hence find Q  x  . [2004
AL]
08' Find the polynomail expression that is 14' When P  x   ax 3  bx  c is divided respec-
divided exactly by x 2  1 and also when divided
tively by  x  1 ,  x  1 and  x  2  the re-
by  x  1  x  1 gives a remainder 10 x  6 ,
2

mainders are 4, 0, 4 .Find the values of a, b, c

also this polynomial is expression of degree
and also find all linear factors. [2005 AL]
four. [1983 AL]

wñ, wfíisxy - B.Sc. (Mathematics Special) - M.Sc. (Mathematics Education ) -6-

 Combined Mathematics Polynomials

18' f  x   2 x 3  x 2  2 x  k Here k is a non zero

15' f  x  is a polynomail greater than degree
interger. if  x  k  is a factor of f  x  find the
3.When f  x  is divided respectively by
value of k
 x  1 ,  x  2  ,  x  3 the remainders are a, b, c
a) Write f  x  as a multiple of unitary factors
respectively.By using remainder theorem
of x
repeatedly show that when f  x  is divided by
b) Find a, b, c such that
 x  1 ,  x  2  ,  x  3 the remainder can be f  x    x  a  2 x  1 x  1  bx  c [2011 AL -
expressed as   x  1 x  2     x  1  v .All OLD]
symmbols are constants.Find a, b, c in terms of 19'  ,    and h  x   x 4   x 2   x  2 ' If
 ,  , v . [2007 AL]
 x  1 and  x  2  are factors of h  x  " find
16' Show that when f  x  is divided by  x   the values of  in  'Hence or somehow find

the remainder is f   . Remainder takes the the remaining unitary factors of h  x  '[2012 AL
- OLD]
form Ax  B when f  x  is divided by
20' g  x   x 4  4 x3  7 x 2  6 x  2 ' By using the
 x    x    . Here    .Express A and B in remiander theorm again and again show that
terms of  ,  , f   , f    . Hence find the  x  1 is a factor of g  x  ' Write g  x  in the
2

value of k such that the constant term does not

format of  x  a   x 2  bx  c  ' Here a, b, c are
2

exist when x  kx  k  0 is divded by

3 2

constants that should be determined' For all the

 x  1 x  2 . [2008 AL] real values of x , prove that g  x   0 '
[2012AL]
17' Show that when poynomial f  x  is divded
21' a   and " f  x   3x3  5 x 2  ax  1 ' It is
by  x    the remainder is f   .When
given that  3x  1
f  x  is divided by  x    x    x    the
is a factor of f  x  ' Find the value of a' Write
remainder takes the form
f  x  in the format of  3 x  1 x  k  . Here k
2

A  x    x     B  x    x     C  x    x    is a constant. Write the above expression

. Here  ,  ,  are non equal integers. Find  3x  1
in the form b  x  1  c , where a and b
constants A, B, C in terms of are constants. Hence find the remainder when
f  x  when divided by  x  1 ' [2013AL]
3
 ,  ,  , f   , f    , f    . Hence find the value
of constant k for which the remainder when 22' i) Let f  x   2 x 4   x3   x  1 ' 
x 5  kxis divided by  x  1 x  1 x  2  con-
 1 
tains no x term. [2009 AL] and  are real constants. ' f    0 and
 2 
f  2   21 are given" find the two unitary Let

factors of f  x  . [2014AL]

wñ, wfíisxy - B.Sc. (Mathematics Special) - M.Sc. (Mathematics Education ) -7-

 Combined Mathematics Polynomials
ii) For all x   find the two unitary factors of
27' Let h  x   x3  ax 2  bx  c where
P  x  and Q  x  which satisfies the exprssion
a, b, c   . It is given that x  1 is a factor of
2

x 2
 x  1 P  x    x 2  1 Q  x   3 x [2015AL]
h  x  . Show that b  1 . It is also given that

the remainder when h  x  is divided x 2  2 x by

23' Let p  x   x  2 x  3x  1 and
3 2

is 5x  k , where k   . Find the value of k and

q  x   x 2  3 x  6 . By using the remainder
show that h  x  can be written in the form
therom, the remainder when " p  x  is divided
 x     x    , where  ,    .
2
[2020 AL]
by  x  1 and the remainder when q  x  is
28' Let f  x   2 x 3  ax 2  bx  1 and
divided by  x  2 
g  x   x3  cx 2  ax  1 , where a, b, c   . It is
prove that p  x    x  1 q  x   5 " and the remain-
given that the remainder when f  x  is divided by
der when p  x  divided  x  1 x  2  .[2016 AL]
 x  1 is 5 and the remainder when divided by
24' g  x   x3  px 2  qx  1 ' Here p, q   x 2  x  2 is x  1 . Find the values of a , b and c.
.When divided by Also, with these values for a , b and c, show that

 x  1 x  2 the remainder is 3x  2 ' Show that f  x  2g  x 

13
, for all x   .[2021 AL]
12
the reminder when divided by  x  1 is 5 , and
when divided by  x  2 the remainder is 4 ' 29' Let p  x   2 x3  ax 2  bx  4 , where a, b   .
Find the values of p and q and show that  x  1 It is given that  x  2  is a factor of both p  x 
is a factor of g  x  ' [2017 AL] and p  x  , where p  x  is the derivative of
25' c  0 and d is a real number and lets take p  x  , with respect to x. Find the values of a and
f  x   x  4 x  cx  d ' f  x  when divided by
3 2
b. For these values of a and b, factorise
 x  c the remainder is c 3 ' Also p  x   3 p  x  completely.. [2022 AL]

 x  c  is a factor of f  x  ' show that c  2

30' Let a   and p  x  be a polynomial of degree
and d  12 ' For the values of
c and d find the remainder when f  x  is 4. Show that if  x  a  is a facto of both p  x 
and
divided by x 2  4 '
p  x  , then  x  a  is a factor of p  x  , where
2
[2018 AL]
26' c  0 and d  0 also are real numbers. let p  x  is the derivative of p  x  with respect to x .
f  x   x  2 x  dx  cd ' Show that
3 2
 x  c is
Let f  x   x 4  x 3  6 x 2  4 x  8 for x   .
a factor of f  x  and when f  x  divided by (x-
Deduce that  x  2  is a factor of f  x  .
2

d) the remainder is cd . Find c and d'For the

values Find the value of f  1 and factorize f  x 
c and d , find the remainder when f  x  divided completely. [2023 AL]

by  x  2  . [2019 AL]
2

wñ, wfíisxy - B.Sc. (Mathematics Special) - M.Sc. (Mathematics Education ) -8-