Michigan State University - Diagnostic Exam

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1.14

  •   If one of the factors of 3x2 -5x+b is (x-2), then the other factor is

    a) (x - 3) b) (3x - 1) c) (3x + 1)
         
    d) (3x - 5) e) (3x - 3)

Solution:
If f (x ) = 3x2 - 5x + b then f(2) = b + 2 . This implies that b = -2 since f (2 ) = 0 (since x - 2 is a factor of f(x)). Thus f (x) = 3x2 - 5x + b = (x - 2)(3x + 1) .

Diagnostic:

See 1.10: Factoring (Polynomials) .

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July 15, 2008