Homework Help: Polynomials help

Posted by Aoi on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 8:45am.

Hello, this is a question which i dont know how to do.

Find the value of k for which a-3b is a factor of a^4-7a^2b^2 + kb^4
Hence, for this value of k, factorise a^4 - 7a^2b^2 + kb^4 completely.

I tried to do long division for the question, but couldnt. Is there any other methods?

Polynomials help - bobpursley, Friday, June 19, 2009 at 9:02am
Long division works quite nicely
http://calc101.com/webMathematica/long-divide.jsp#topdoit
Now if a=0, you are dividing

kb^4 by -3b

and if a=1 and b=2 you are dividing

1-7*4+16k by -5 or (-27+16k)/-5 and if that is to come out as an integer, then
-27+16k is a multiple of 5 which means than in 16k has to be ???8 which means k is now a multiple of 3 and ends in 8. Hmmmm. -18 works.

Do the long division.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

POLYNOMIALS - I'm really sorry, i'm preparing for O levels, so i have a ...
algebra - Find the factors ab+ 2a +3b +6 First group the terms to get (ab+2a...
math - Factor each expression completely: 18b²+24b-10 Thanks in advance. ...
Liberal Arts Math - how would i solve this problem?? it says factor the ...
Calculus II - Fed loves polynomials with rational coefficients and only such ...
ALB 2 - 1.Find the greatest common factor in this problem. 12a3b2, 18a2b3, 6a4b4...
Math - 2. Find the LCM and GCD of (2y^2 - 3a^2)x + (2a^2 - 3x^2)y and (2a^2 + ...
Polynomials - History of Polynomials. I need to know how polynomials was created...
Greatest Common factors - I dont know these answers. Can you help me? Greatest ...
Math - Given that x-1 is a factor of f(x)=x^6-5x^4-10x^2 k, find the value of k...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: