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Given f(x) = x³ + 8x + kf(x) = x³ + 8x + k, and (x - 1) is a factor of f(x), then what is the value of k?

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Final answer:

The value of k is -9.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given f(x) = x³ + 8x + kf(x) = x³ + 8x + k, and (x - 1) is a factor of f(x), we can use synthetic division to find the value of k.

Using the factor theorem, if (x - 1) is a factor of f(x), then f(1) = 0.

Substituting x = 1 into f(x), we get:

f(1) = 1³ + 8(1) + k = 1 + 8 + k = 9 + k

Since f(1) = 0, we can solve for k:

9 + k = 0

k = -9

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