Factorise the following p(x) as the product of a linear term and a quadratic polynomial with no real roots.











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Factorise the following p(x) functions as the product of a linear term and a quadratic polynomial with no real roots (or if there are real roots, factorise to irreducible form and find them):
1. $$p(x)=x^3+x$$
2. $$p(x)=x^4+x^2$$
3. $$p(x)=x^3-x$$










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  • What have you tried? Where are you confused?
    – Dzoooks
    Nov 22 at 4:45















up vote
-1
down vote

favorite
1












Factorise the following p(x) functions as the product of a linear term and a quadratic polynomial with no real roots (or if there are real roots, factorise to irreducible form and find them):
1. $$p(x)=x^3+x$$
2. $$p(x)=x^4+x^2$$
3. $$p(x)=x^3-x$$










share|cite|improve this question






















  • What have you tried? Where are you confused?
    – Dzoooks
    Nov 22 at 4:45













up vote
-1
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
-1
down vote

favorite
1






1





Factorise the following p(x) functions as the product of a linear term and a quadratic polynomial with no real roots (or if there are real roots, factorise to irreducible form and find them):
1. $$p(x)=x^3+x$$
2. $$p(x)=x^4+x^2$$
3. $$p(x)=x^3-x$$










share|cite|improve this question













Factorise the following p(x) functions as the product of a linear term and a quadratic polynomial with no real roots (or if there are real roots, factorise to irreducible form and find them):
1. $$p(x)=x^3+x$$
2. $$p(x)=x^4+x^2$$
3. $$p(x)=x^3-x$$







linear-algebra polynomials roots factoring irreducible-polynomials






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asked Nov 22 at 4:36









Kayla Martin

636




636












  • What have you tried? Where are you confused?
    – Dzoooks
    Nov 22 at 4:45


















  • What have you tried? Where are you confused?
    – Dzoooks
    Nov 22 at 4:45
















What have you tried? Where are you confused?
– Dzoooks
Nov 22 at 4:45




What have you tried? Where are you confused?
– Dzoooks
Nov 22 at 4:45










2 Answers
2






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1
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accepted










Really, these polynomials target a single skill: taking out a common factor. For example, with $x^2+x$, both terms have $x$ as a factor, so you can divide it out (inverse distributive property of sorts) and get $x(x+1)$.



$$$$





  1. $$x^3+x = x(x^2+1)$$
    Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


  2. $$x^4+x^2 = x^2(x^2+1)$$
    Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


  3. $$x^3-x = x(x^2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1)$$
    Roots are $0$, $1$, and $-1$.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 4:54










  • @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
    – idea
    Nov 22 at 4:59










  • Okay, thank you!
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 5:01


















up vote
1
down vote













I think it's important you understand this idea for more difficult cases than you ask about, so my answer will touch on a more general method for solving these problems, and show you how it works for slightly more difficult cases.



We have that if for some polynomial $p(x)$, $p(a)=0$, then:



$$p(x)=(x-a)cdot q(x)$$



Where $q(x)$ is a polynomial one degree smaller than $p(x)$ (the degree of a polynomial just means the largest power of $x$ in it).



If you can find any point where a polynomial $p(x) $ has a zero, you can take out the factor in this way and find the smaller polynomial $q(x)$, which can either be solved or reduced again.



Let me demonstrate first on (b)



We have that $p(x)=x^4-x^2$
I like to test values $0,1,-1,2,-2$ etc... Here, it's plain that $p (0)=0$, so we take out $(x-0)$, or just $x$. We now have that:



$$x^4-x^2=xcdot q(x)$$



From which we get that $q(x)=x^3-x$. But $q(0)=0$, so we can take out another factor $x$, giving $$x^4-x^2=x^2cdot r (x)$$ It follows that $r(x)=x^2+1$, a quadratic we can solve by the Quadratic Formula.



This is a rather bland example, so I'll demonstrate the procedure on a better example.



Suppose we have $$f(x)=x^3+4x^2+7x+4$$



Plugging in values for $x$, we get that $f(-1)=0$



So we have that:



$$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)cdot g(x)$$
Or rather,



$$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)(x^2+px+q)$$ for some real $p,q$.



Expanding this out we get:



$$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=x^3+(p+1)x^2+(p+q)x+q$$



From which it follows that $p=3, q=4$.



So: $$f(x)=(x+1)(x^2+3x+4)$$, which is a quadratic we can solve (even if the solutions aren't real)






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    2 Answers
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    up vote
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    down vote



    accepted










    Really, these polynomials target a single skill: taking out a common factor. For example, with $x^2+x$, both terms have $x$ as a factor, so you can divide it out (inverse distributive property of sorts) and get $x(x+1)$.



    $$$$





    1. $$x^3+x = x(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    2. $$x^4+x^2 = x^2(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    3. $$x^3-x = x(x^2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $1$, and $-1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 4:54










    • @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
      – idea
      Nov 22 at 4:59










    • Okay, thank you!
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 5:01















    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted










    Really, these polynomials target a single skill: taking out a common factor. For example, with $x^2+x$, both terms have $x$ as a factor, so you can divide it out (inverse distributive property of sorts) and get $x(x+1)$.



    $$$$





    1. $$x^3+x = x(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    2. $$x^4+x^2 = x^2(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    3. $$x^3-x = x(x^2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $1$, and $-1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 4:54










    • @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
      – idea
      Nov 22 at 4:59










    • Okay, thank you!
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 5:01













    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    1
    down vote



    accepted






    Really, these polynomials target a single skill: taking out a common factor. For example, with $x^2+x$, both terms have $x$ as a factor, so you can divide it out (inverse distributive property of sorts) and get $x(x+1)$.



    $$$$





    1. $$x^3+x = x(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    2. $$x^4+x^2 = x^2(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    3. $$x^3-x = x(x^2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $1$, and $-1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    Really, these polynomials target a single skill: taking out a common factor. For example, with $x^2+x$, both terms have $x$ as a factor, so you can divide it out (inverse distributive property of sorts) and get $x(x+1)$.



    $$$$





    1. $$x^3+x = x(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    2. $$x^4+x^2 = x^2(x^2+1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $i$, and $-i$.


    3. $$x^3-x = x(x^2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1)$$
      Roots are $0$, $1$, and $-1$.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Nov 22 at 4:49









    Christopher Marley

    905115




    905115












    • Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 4:54










    • @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
      – idea
      Nov 22 at 4:59










    • Okay, thank you!
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 5:01


















    • Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 4:54










    • @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
      – idea
      Nov 22 at 4:59










    • Okay, thank you!
      – Kayla Martin
      Nov 22 at 5:01
















    Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 4:54




    Ah, see this is exactly what I thought to do at first, but then the wording of the question threw me. What do they mean by "product of a linear term"? Isn't 0 a real root? Is it possible to take 1 and 2 further so that the terms only give complex roots and no real roots? Or is that impossible?
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 4:54












    @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
    – idea
    Nov 22 at 4:59




    @KaylaMartin if p(x) has a real root, it will be there however further you take it. Linear term will obviously give you a real root. So, it is impossible.
    – idea
    Nov 22 at 4:59












    Okay, thank you!
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 5:01




    Okay, thank you!
    – Kayla Martin
    Nov 22 at 5:01










    up vote
    1
    down vote













    I think it's important you understand this idea for more difficult cases than you ask about, so my answer will touch on a more general method for solving these problems, and show you how it works for slightly more difficult cases.



    We have that if for some polynomial $p(x)$, $p(a)=0$, then:



    $$p(x)=(x-a)cdot q(x)$$



    Where $q(x)$ is a polynomial one degree smaller than $p(x)$ (the degree of a polynomial just means the largest power of $x$ in it).



    If you can find any point where a polynomial $p(x) $ has a zero, you can take out the factor in this way and find the smaller polynomial $q(x)$, which can either be solved or reduced again.



    Let me demonstrate first on (b)



    We have that $p(x)=x^4-x^2$
    I like to test values $0,1,-1,2,-2$ etc... Here, it's plain that $p (0)=0$, so we take out $(x-0)$, or just $x$. We now have that:



    $$x^4-x^2=xcdot q(x)$$



    From which we get that $q(x)=x^3-x$. But $q(0)=0$, so we can take out another factor $x$, giving $$x^4-x^2=x^2cdot r (x)$$ It follows that $r(x)=x^2+1$, a quadratic we can solve by the Quadratic Formula.



    This is a rather bland example, so I'll demonstrate the procedure on a better example.



    Suppose we have $$f(x)=x^3+4x^2+7x+4$$



    Plugging in values for $x$, we get that $f(-1)=0$



    So we have that:



    $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)cdot g(x)$$
    Or rather,



    $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)(x^2+px+q)$$ for some real $p,q$.



    Expanding this out we get:



    $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=x^3+(p+1)x^2+(p+q)x+q$$



    From which it follows that $p=3, q=4$.



    So: $$f(x)=(x+1)(x^2+3x+4)$$, which is a quadratic we can solve (even if the solutions aren't real)






    share|cite|improve this answer

























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      I think it's important you understand this idea for more difficult cases than you ask about, so my answer will touch on a more general method for solving these problems, and show you how it works for slightly more difficult cases.



      We have that if for some polynomial $p(x)$, $p(a)=0$, then:



      $$p(x)=(x-a)cdot q(x)$$



      Where $q(x)$ is a polynomial one degree smaller than $p(x)$ (the degree of a polynomial just means the largest power of $x$ in it).



      If you can find any point where a polynomial $p(x) $ has a zero, you can take out the factor in this way and find the smaller polynomial $q(x)$, which can either be solved or reduced again.



      Let me demonstrate first on (b)



      We have that $p(x)=x^4-x^2$
      I like to test values $0,1,-1,2,-2$ etc... Here, it's plain that $p (0)=0$, so we take out $(x-0)$, or just $x$. We now have that:



      $$x^4-x^2=xcdot q(x)$$



      From which we get that $q(x)=x^3-x$. But $q(0)=0$, so we can take out another factor $x$, giving $$x^4-x^2=x^2cdot r (x)$$ It follows that $r(x)=x^2+1$, a quadratic we can solve by the Quadratic Formula.



      This is a rather bland example, so I'll demonstrate the procedure on a better example.



      Suppose we have $$f(x)=x^3+4x^2+7x+4$$



      Plugging in values for $x$, we get that $f(-1)=0$



      So we have that:



      $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)cdot g(x)$$
      Or rather,



      $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)(x^2+px+q)$$ for some real $p,q$.



      Expanding this out we get:



      $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=x^3+(p+1)x^2+(p+q)x+q$$



      From which it follows that $p=3, q=4$.



      So: $$f(x)=(x+1)(x^2+3x+4)$$, which is a quadratic we can solve (even if the solutions aren't real)






      share|cite|improve this answer























        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        I think it's important you understand this idea for more difficult cases than you ask about, so my answer will touch on a more general method for solving these problems, and show you how it works for slightly more difficult cases.



        We have that if for some polynomial $p(x)$, $p(a)=0$, then:



        $$p(x)=(x-a)cdot q(x)$$



        Where $q(x)$ is a polynomial one degree smaller than $p(x)$ (the degree of a polynomial just means the largest power of $x$ in it).



        If you can find any point where a polynomial $p(x) $ has a zero, you can take out the factor in this way and find the smaller polynomial $q(x)$, which can either be solved or reduced again.



        Let me demonstrate first on (b)



        We have that $p(x)=x^4-x^2$
        I like to test values $0,1,-1,2,-2$ etc... Here, it's plain that $p (0)=0$, so we take out $(x-0)$, or just $x$. We now have that:



        $$x^4-x^2=xcdot q(x)$$



        From which we get that $q(x)=x^3-x$. But $q(0)=0$, so we can take out another factor $x$, giving $$x^4-x^2=x^2cdot r (x)$$ It follows that $r(x)=x^2+1$, a quadratic we can solve by the Quadratic Formula.



        This is a rather bland example, so I'll demonstrate the procedure on a better example.



        Suppose we have $$f(x)=x^3+4x^2+7x+4$$



        Plugging in values for $x$, we get that $f(-1)=0$



        So we have that:



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)cdot g(x)$$
        Or rather,



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)(x^2+px+q)$$ for some real $p,q$.



        Expanding this out we get:



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=x^3+(p+1)x^2+(p+q)x+q$$



        From which it follows that $p=3, q=4$.



        So: $$f(x)=(x+1)(x^2+3x+4)$$, which is a quadratic we can solve (even if the solutions aren't real)






        share|cite|improve this answer












        I think it's important you understand this idea for more difficult cases than you ask about, so my answer will touch on a more general method for solving these problems, and show you how it works for slightly more difficult cases.



        We have that if for some polynomial $p(x)$, $p(a)=0$, then:



        $$p(x)=(x-a)cdot q(x)$$



        Where $q(x)$ is a polynomial one degree smaller than $p(x)$ (the degree of a polynomial just means the largest power of $x$ in it).



        If you can find any point where a polynomial $p(x) $ has a zero, you can take out the factor in this way and find the smaller polynomial $q(x)$, which can either be solved or reduced again.



        Let me demonstrate first on (b)



        We have that $p(x)=x^4-x^2$
        I like to test values $0,1,-1,2,-2$ etc... Here, it's plain that $p (0)=0$, so we take out $(x-0)$, or just $x$. We now have that:



        $$x^4-x^2=xcdot q(x)$$



        From which we get that $q(x)=x^3-x$. But $q(0)=0$, so we can take out another factor $x$, giving $$x^4-x^2=x^2cdot r (x)$$ It follows that $r(x)=x^2+1$, a quadratic we can solve by the Quadratic Formula.



        This is a rather bland example, so I'll demonstrate the procedure on a better example.



        Suppose we have $$f(x)=x^3+4x^2+7x+4$$



        Plugging in values for $x$, we get that $f(-1)=0$



        So we have that:



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)cdot g(x)$$
        Or rather,



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=(x+1)(x^2+px+q)$$ for some real $p,q$.



        Expanding this out we get:



        $$x^3+4x^2+7x+4=x^3+(p+1)x^2+(p+q)x+q$$



        From which it follows that $p=3, q=4$.



        So: $$f(x)=(x+1)(x^2+3x+4)$$, which is a quadratic we can solve (even if the solutions aren't real)







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Nov 22 at 5:50









        Rhys Hughes

        4,6651327




        4,6651327






























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