If x + 1 is a factor of x3 + 3x2 + kx + 4, find the value of k

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Mathematics - 1992 Subject: General Mathematics

Question 1 Report

If x + 1 is a factor of x3 + 3x2 + kx + 4, find the value of k
Answer Details
To find the value of k, we need to use the factor theorem which states that if x - a is a factor of a polynomial, then the polynomial is zero when x = a. Since x + 1 is a factor of x^3 + 3x^2 + kx + 4, we know that x = -1 makes the polynomial zero. Substituting -1 for x in the polynomial, we get: (-1)^3 + 3(-1)^2 + k(-1) + 4 = 0 -1 + 3 - k + 4 = 0 6 - k = 0 Solving for k, we get: k = 6 Therefore, the value of k is 6.

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