Is the Remainder of Polynomial $f(x)$ the Same for Two Different Divisors?

In summary, polynomial division is a method of dividing two polynomials by arranging their terms in descending order, dividing, multiplying, subtracting, and repeating until a quotient and remainder are found. It differs from regular division by involving variables and exponents and can be used in real-world applications such as modeling and problem-solving. Common mistakes to avoid include not arranging terms correctly, dividing by zero, and making calculation errors.
  • #1
anemone
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Show that the remainder of the polynomial $f(x)=2008+2007x+2006x^2+\cdots+3x^{2005}+2x^{2006}+x^{2007}$ is the same upon division by $x(x+1)$ as upon division by $x(x+1)^2$.
 
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  • #2
$f(x)=2008+2007x+2006x^2+\cdots+3x^{2005}+2x^{2006}+x^{2007}$1st we provide the premise

this shall have same remainder when divided by $x(x+1)$ and $x(x+1)^2$

provided this shall have same remainder when divided by $(x+1)$ and $(x+1)^2$

when we divide by (x+1)^2 we shall have a linear polynomial say m(x+1) + c and when we divide by (x+1) it shall be d and both are same if m= 0 and m+c = d

so if we convert
f(x) as a polynomial of (x+1) the coefficient of x should be zero

or f(x-1) should have coefficient of x to be zero

now we provide the solution based on premise

$f(x-1)=2008+2007(x-1)+2006(x-1)^2+\cdots+3(x-1)^{2005}+2(x-1)^{2006}+(x-1)^{2007}$

should have coefficient of x to be zero

the coefficient of x
$= 2007 + 2006 * (-2) + 2005 * 3 \cdots + 2 * 2006 - 2007 = 0$

hence proved
 
  • #3
kaliprasad said:
$f(x)=2008+2007x+2006x^2+\cdots+3x^{2005}+2x^{2006}+x^{2007}$1st we provide the premise

this shall have same remainder when divided by $x(x+1)$ and $x(x+1)^2$

provided this shall have same remainder when divided by $(x+1)$ and $(x+1)^2$

when we divide by (x+1)^2 we shall have a linear polynomial say m(x+1) + c and when we divide by (x+1) it shall be d and both are same if m= 0 and m+c = d

so if we convert
f(x) as a polynomial of (x+1) the coefficient of x should be zero

or f(x-1) should have coefficient of x to be zero

now we provide the solution based on premise

$f(x-1)=2008+2007(x-1)+2006(x-1)^2+\cdots+3(x-1)^{2005}+2(x-1)^{2006}+(x-1)^{2007}$

should have coefficient of x to be zero

the coefficient of x
$= 2007 + 2006 * (-2) + 2005 * 3 \cdots + 2 * 2006 - 2007 = 0$

hence proved

Ops, I want to apologize to kaliprasad for not replying to your solution earlier...sorry, Kali!:(

Thanks for your participation and your great solution by the way. :cool:

I have another solution that I want to share here with you and MHB:

We have that

$\begin{align*}f(x)&=2008+1004x+1003(x^3+2x^2+x)+\cdots+3(x^{2003}+2x^{2002}+x^{2001})+2(x^{2005}+2x^{2004}+x^{2003})+(x^{2007}+2x^{2006}+x^{2005})\\&=x(x+1)^2(1003+\cdots+3x^{2000}+2x^{2002}+x^{2004})+(1004x+2008)\end{align*}$

from which the result follows with remainder $1004x+2008$
 
Last edited:

Related to Is the Remainder of Polynomial $f(x)$ the Same for Two Different Divisors?

1. What is the definition of polynomial division?

Polynomial division is a method of dividing two polynomials in which one polynomial is divided by another polynomial of lower degree. It involves dividing the terms of the numerator polynomial by the terms of the denominator polynomial.

2. How is polynomial division different from regular division?

Polynomial division is different from regular division in that it involves dividing terms with variables and exponents, rather than just numerical values. It also allows for the possibility of having a remainder.

3. What are the steps for performing polynomial division?

The steps for performing polynomial division are as follows: 1) Arrange the terms of the polynomials in descending order of their exponents; 2) Divide the first term of the numerator polynomial by the first term of the denominator polynomial; 3) Multiply the resulting quotient by the entire denominator polynomial; 4) Subtract this product from the numerator polynomial; 5) Repeat steps 2-4 until there are no more terms in the numerator or the degree of the remaining terms is lower than the degree of the denominator; 6) The final result will be the quotient and any remaining terms will be the remainder.

4. What are some common mistakes to avoid when performing polynomial division?

Some common mistakes to avoid when performing polynomial division include: 1) Not arranging the terms in descending order of their exponents; 2) Dividing by zero; 3) Forgetting to distribute the quotient to all terms of the denominator; 4) Not properly dealing with negative exponents; 5) Making calculation errors, such as forgetting to carry over or adding/subtracting incorrectly.

5. How is polynomial division useful in real-world applications?

Polynomial division is useful in many real-world applications, such as in engineering, physics, and economics. For example, it can be used to model the growth of a population, the spread of a disease, or the depreciation of an asset over time. It can also be used to solve problems involving rates, such as finding the average speed of a moving object or the rate of change in a chemical reaction.

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