Problem with a product of 2 remainders (polynomials)

In summary, the Chinese remainder theorem states that if a and b are two integers, then V(x) must have the form ##ax+b##.
  • #1
another_dude
10
2

Homework Statement


[/B]
Polynomial P(x) when divided by (x-2) gives a remainder of 10. Same polynomial when divided by (x+3) gives a remainder of 5. Find the remainder the polynomial gives when divided by (x-2)(x+3).

2. Homework Equations

Polynomial division, remainder theorem

The Attempt at a Solution


From the problem and the remainder theorem I got 2 equations:
1) P(2)=10 and 2) P(-3)=5
More generally, we get this: P(x)=(x-2)D(x)+10=(x+3)F(x)+5 , where D(x), F(x) some polynomials one rank lower than P(x).

Tried multiplicating, dividing and adding the equations in different ways but couldn't get a useful relation, namely P(x)=(x-2)(x+3)G(x)+ V(x), where V(x) is the wanted remainder. Any thoughts?
 
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  • #2
another_dude said:

Homework Statement


[/B]
Polynomial P(x) when divided by (x-2) gives a remainder of 10. Same polynomial when divided by (x+3) gives a remainder of 5. Find the remainder the polynomial gives when divided by (x-2)(x+3).

2. Homework Equations

Polynomial division, remainder theorem

The Attempt at a Solution


From the problem and the remainder theorem I got 2 equations:
1) P(2)=10 and 2) P(-3)=5
More generally, we get this: P(x)=(x-2)D(x)+10=(x+3)F(x)+5 , where D(x), F(x) some polynomials one rank lower than P(x).

Tried multiplicating, dividing and adding the equations in different ways but couldn't get a useful relation, namely P(x)=(x-2)(x+3)G(x)+ V(x), where V(x) is the wanted remainder. Any thoughts?
Do you know the Chinese remainder theorem?
 
  • #3
Never heard of it before.
 
  • #4
another_dude said:
Tried multiplicating, dividing and adding the equations in different ways but couldn't get a useful relation, namely P(x)=(x-2)(x+3)G(x)+ V(x), where V(x) is the wanted remainder. Any thoughts?

##V(x)## must have the form ##ax+b##, right? What are ##V(2)## and ##V(-3)##?
 
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  • #5
Oh right, didn't think of that actually. Well, from the remainder theorem we get 1) V(2)=P(2)=10 2) V(-3)=P(-3)=5 . Then you solve the system for a and b. Thanks!
 
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