Basic Technical Mathematics, 11th Edition

15 Equations of Higher Degree

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completion of this chapter, the student should be able to:

• Use the remainder theorem to evaluate polynomials and to find remainders

• Use the factor theorem to identify factors and zeros of polynomials

• Perform synthetic division

• Use the fundamental theorem of algebra to determine the number of roots of an equation

• Solve equations given at least one root

• Determine the possible rational roots of an equation

• Determine the maximum possible number of positive and negative roots by using Descartes’ rule of signs

• Solve polynomial equations of degree three and higher

• Solve application problems involving polynomial equations

The errors in the hand-compiled mathematical tables used by the British ...