In Exercises 33–40, use synthetic division and the Remainder Theorem to find the indicated function value. f(x)=6x4+10x3+5x2+x+1;f(− 2/3)
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Identify the divisor for synthetic division based on the input value. Since we want to find f(−2/3), the divisor is x - (−2/3) or x + 2/3.
Set up synthetic division using the coefficients of the polynomial f(x) = 6x^4 + 10x^3 + 5x^2 + x + 1. The coefficients are 6, 10, 5, 1, and 1.
Perform synthetic division by bringing down the first coefficient (6), then multiply it by −2/3 and add to the next coefficient, repeating this process across all coefficients.
The final number obtained after completing synthetic division is the remainder, which equals f(−2/3) according to the Remainder Theorem.
Interpret the remainder as the value of the function at x = −2/3, completing the evaluation without directly substituting into the polynomial.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a streamlined method for dividing a polynomial by a linear binomial of the form (x - c). It simplifies the long division process by using only the coefficients of the polynomial, making calculations faster and less error-prone, especially when evaluating polynomials at specific values.
The Remainder Theorem states that when a polynomial f(x) is divided by (x - c), the remainder is equal to f(c). This theorem allows us to find the value of the polynomial at x = c by performing division, providing a direct link between division and function evaluation.
Evaluating polynomials at rational numbers involves substituting the given rational value into the polynomial expression. Using synthetic division with fractions requires careful arithmetic, but it efficiently yields the polynomial's value without fully expanding or calculating each term separately.