Division question with two variables... help!

J

JSmith

Junior Member
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Sep 21, 2012
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Hi!

I am doing my homework for today's lesson and there are a lot of questions like the one that follows, I was wondering if someone could solve it for me so I can see their steps and then use that as a model for the other questions, and hopefully I can get them... Thanks!!!!

When ax3 - x2 + 3x + b is divided by x - 2, the remainder is 59. When it is divided by x + 1, the remainder is -1. Find the values of a and b.
 
JSmith said:
When ax3 - x2 + 3x + b is divided by x - 2, the remainder is 59. When it is divided by x + 1, the remainder is -1. Find the values of a and b.
Click to expand...
That tells you that by the remainder theorem
\(\displaystyle a(2)^3-(2)^2+3(2)+b=59~\&\)
\(\displaystyle ~a(-1)^3-(-1)^2+3(-1)+b=-1\)
 
Last edited:
Have you met the odd procedure known as "Synthetic Division"?
 
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