Question

How do you use the factor theorem to determine whether x+2 is a factor of `x^4 - 3x - 5`?

Answer 1

According to the Factor Theorem
`f(-2)=0` if and only if `(x+2)` is a factor of `f(x)`

Explanation:

Given `f(x)=x^4-3x-5`

`f(-2) = (-2)^4-3*(-2)-5 =16+6-5 = 17 !=0`

and therefore `(x+2)` is not a factor of `f(x)=x^4-3x-5`