Using the factor throrem and synthetic division is a way to factor higher degree polynomials.  Once a factor is identified, synthetic division is used to break down the polyomial into 2 factors, at which point one of the factors can be further explored using factor theorem and synthetic division. 

See some examples of this process in today's notes:

Resources

• 12.3.3b Notes: Factoring Polynomials

Assignment

• p133 #5, 8, 11, 13, C2 C3

After today you should be able to:

• Identify at least one factor of a polynomial using the integral zero theorem and the factor theorem
• determine the other factor by long division or synthetic division
• repeat the process until you have no more identifiable factors