PreCalculus Flashcard 2.3

Front

What is synthetic division?

Back

Synthetic division is a simplified method of dividing a polynomial by a linear binomial of the form (x - c). It is faster than long division and involves using coefficients of the polynomial.

Front

What is the next step in synthetic division after bringing down a number?

Back

Multiply the number brought down by the divisor.

Front

What should you do if you are missing an exponent in a polynomial?

Back

You must put a zero as a coefficient placeholder for that exponent.

Front

How do you find the value of a polynomial function at a specific point using synthetic substitution?

Back

Substitute the value into the polynomial and perform synthetic division to find the result.

Front

What are the zeros of a polynomial?

Back

The zeros of a polynomial are the values of x for which the polynomial equals zero.

Front

How do you determine if a number is a zero of a polynomial?

Back

Substitute the number into the polynomial. If the result is zero, then it is a zero of the polynomial.

Front

What is the significance of the coefficients in a polynomial?

Back

Coefficients determine the weight of each term in the polynomial and affect the shape and position of its graph.

Front

What is the degree of a polynomial?

Back

The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial.

Front

What does it mean to evaluate a polynomial function?

Back

Evaluating a polynomial function means substituting a specific value for the variable and calculating the result.

Front

Back

The result is 7.