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if (x - 1), (x + 1) and (x - 2) are factors of the...

Mathematics
JAMB 2000

if (x - 1), (x + 1) and (x - 2) are factors of the polynomial ax\(^3\) + bx\(^2\) + cx - 1, find a, b, c in that order.

  • A. -1/2, 1., 1/2
  • B. 1/2, 1, 1/2
  • C. 1/2, 1, -1/2
  • D. 1/2, -1, 1/2
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Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation

This is a polynomial of the 3rd order, thus x should have three answers. Use the factors given to get values of x as 1, -1 and -2.

Form three equations, and carry out elimination and subsequent substitution to get a = -1/2, b = 1, and c = 1/2

 

Equate each factor to zero to get the values of x

x-1 = 0, x = 1

x +1 = 0, x = -1

x - 2 = 0, x = 2

substitute these value of x in the given equation

\(ax^3 + bx^2\) + cx - 1

when x = 1

\(ax^3 + bx^2\) + cx - 1 = a + b + c - 1= 0 ------------------------(1)

when x = -1

\(ax^3 + bx^2\) + cx - 1 = -a + b - c - 1 = 0-------------------------(2)

when x = 2

\(ax^3 + bx^2\) + cx - 1 = 8a + 4b + 2c - 1 = 0 ----------------------(3)

add equations 1 and 2

     a + b + c - 1= 0 

+  -a + b - c - 1 = 0

b = 1

put b = 1 into equation (1)

a + b + c - 1= 0 = a + 1 + c -1 = 0

a = - c 

put a = - c into equation(3)

8a + 4b + 2c - 1 = 0, 

-8c + 4 + 2c - 1 = 0 ( b = 1 remember)

-6c = -3

c = \(\frac{-3}{-6}\) = \(\frac{1}{2}\)

put c = \(\frac{1}{2}\) and b = 1 into equation (1)

a + b + c - 1= 0

a + 1 +  \(\frac{1}{2}\) - 1 = 0

a +  \(\frac{1}{2}\) = 0

then a =  \(\frac{-1}{2}\)

 

 

 

There is an explanation video available below.


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Explanation Video

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