# Remainder theorem

1. May 20, 2016

### terryds

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Polynomial f(x) is divisible by $x^2-1$. If f(x) is divided by $x^3-x$, then the remainder is...

A. $(x^2-x)f(-1)$
B. $(x-x^2)f(-1)$
C. $(x^2-1)f(0)$
D. $(1-x^2)f(0)$
E. $(x^2+x)f(1)$

2. Relevant equations
Remainder theorem

3. The attempt at a solution

f(x) is divisible by $x^2-1$ which means

$f(x) = (x^2-1) H(x)+0 \\ f(x) = (x+1)(x-1) H(x) + 0 \\ f(1) = 0 \\ f(-1) = 0$

f(x) is divided by $x^3-x$ which means

$f(x) = (x^3-x) H(x) + (px+q) \\ f(x) = x (x^2-1) H(x) + px + q \\ f(x) = x(x+1)(x-1) H(x)+ px + q \\ \\ f(1) = p + q = 0 \\ f(-1) = -p+q = 0 \\ f(0) = q$

And, I got p = 0, and q = 0 which means no remainder for the division.
But, the options is very confusing.

2. May 21, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

Since it is given that f(x) is divisible by $x^2 - 1$, then you can say that $f(x) = (x^2 - 1)H(x)$ for some polynomial H. You don't need to include the "+ 0".
No.
From the earlier work, you have that $f(x) = (x^2 - 1)H(x)$, so you wouldn't have the equation you have above with $x^3 - x$ in it. Besides this, it can't be true that $f(x) = (x^2 - 1)H(x)$ AND $f(x) = (x^3-x) H(x)$ plus some other terms.

Going back to the first equation I wrote, $f(x) = (x^2 - 1)H(x)$, if f(x) is divided by $x^3 - x$, which is equal to $x(x^2 - 1)$, then everything boils down to whether H(x) is divisible by x or not. Note that saying "if f(x) is divided by $x^3 - x$", that's not the same as saying "f(x) is divisible by $x^3 - x$.

Investigate these two cases:
1. If H(x) is divisible by x, what can you say about the terms that make up H(x)? Remember, f(x) is a polynomial, so H(x) must also be a polynomial.
2. If H(x) is not divisible by x, what can you say about the terms that make up H(x)?

3. May 21, 2016

### terryds

I put it in wrong way...
I mean...
$f(x) = (x^2-1) H(x) f(x) = (x+1)(x-1) H(x) + 0 \\ f(1) = 0 \\ f(-1) = 0$

$f(x) = (x^3-x) T(x) + (px+q) \\ f(x) = x (x^2-1) T(x) + px + q \\ f(x) = x(x+1)(x-1) T(x)+ px + q \\ \\ f(1) = p + q = 0 \\ f(-1) = -p+q = 0 \\ f(0) = q$

I know I shouldn't have put H(x) in both equations.. So, I make it different now... H(x) for division by $x^2 - 1$ and T(x) for division by $x^3-x$..
And I know that it is stated that f(x) is divided by $x^3-x$.
But, by plugging x=0, x=1, and x=-1, the term 'x(x+1)(x-1) T(x)' will cancel out, and I got two equations relating p and q. And, I found out that p and q are zero.

1. If H(x) is divisible by x, it means that there are no constant in H(x).
2. If H(x) is not divisible by x, it means that there is a constant in H(x).

4. May 21, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

Your LaTeX is a little screwy because you omitted a \\ above
The first line above should really be two lines, like so
$f(x) = (x^2-1) H(x) \\ f(x) = (x+1)(x-1) H(x) + 0 \\ Again, there's no point in adding the 0 term in the last line. It's not wrong, but it's not needed. I'm not sure that writing$f(x) = (x^3-x) T(x) + (px+q)$is helpful. To my way of thinking, this is more helpful:$f(x) = (x^2-1) H(x)$. If f(x) is divided by$x^3 - x$, what you get on the right is$\frac{H(x)}{x}$. This is the reasoning behind my hint with the two cases. If H(x) is divisible by x, there is no constant term, so f(x) would be divisible by$x^3 - x$, hence the remainder is zero. As you have already said, (and related to the fact that$f(x) = (x^2-1) H(x)$), clearly, f(1) = f(-1) = 0. That would tend to eliminate answers A, B, and E. 5. May 21, 2016 ### ehild I agree with @Mark44 that writing f(x) in this form is not really helpful. x3-x=x(x2-1). f(x)=(x2-1)H(x) and H(x) is also a polynomial, that you have to divide by x when you divide the original function by x3-x. You can write H(x)=xQ(x) + q. So the original function is f(x)= (x2-1)(xQ(x) + q ) What is the remainder if you divide it by (x2-1)x? 6. May 21, 2016 ### terryds Alright, so this is it$f(x) = x(x^2-1) \frac{H(x)}{x}$But, I don't know if H(x) is divisible or not since f(x) is unknown.$f(x) = (x^2-1)H(x) \\
H(x) = f(x)/(x^2-1) \\$Since f(x) is unknown, I can't find out what H(x) is. So, I don't know if H(x) is divisible by x, or not. So, it will be$
f(x)= (x)(x^2-1)(Q(x) + q/x ) \\
f(x)= (x^2-1)(xQ(x) + q ) $What is the remainder in terms of q? What do you get if x=0? 8. May 21, 2016 ### terryds f(0) = -q So, q = -f(0) Alright, so, the remainder is D.$(1-x^2)f(0)##, right??

9. May 21, 2016

### ehild

yes.

10. May 21, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

But H(x) either is or is not divisible by x. That was my reason for suggesting that you investigate the two cases back in post #2.