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Find k so that x + 2 is a factor of x ^ 3 - k * x ^ 2 + 2x + 7k. (If anyone could help me out with this that would be amazing!!)

User Baetacos
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

k = 4

Explanation:

If x + 2 is a factor of the polynomial;

By the factor theorem, if we set x + 2 = 0, then make x the subject of the formula; if we substitute the value into the polynomial, the result we should have after calculating should be zero

So, we have it that;

x + 2 = 0

x = -2

Substitute into the polynomial and equate to zero

(-2)^3 - k (-2)^2 + 2(-2) + 7k = 0

-8 -4k -4 + 7k = 0

-12 -4k + 7k = 0

-12 + 3k = 0

-3k = -12

k = -12/-3

k = 4

User AbbeGijly
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