Question 5

A polynomial $$f(x)$$ is said to be reducible if it can be written as $$f(x) = g(x)h(x)$$ where $$\deg(g(x)) > 1$$ and $$\deg(h(x)) > 1$$. Otherwise it is said to be irreducible. If $$f(x)$$ is a polynomial of degree 2009, Choose the correct statement from the following.

Solution

Over the real numbers, every polynomial splits into factors of degree 1 or 2. For degree 2009, these factors can always be gathered into two groups each of total degree at least 2, so every such $$f(x)$$ is reducible in the given sense and none is irreducible. In particular $$x^{2009} + 1 = (x^{287} + 1)(x^{1722} - x^{1435} + \cdots + 1)$$ is reducible, since $$2009 = 7 \times 287$$.

Was this solution helpful?

Get AI Help

50,000+ JEE Students Trusted Our Score Calculator

Predict your JEE Main percentile, rank & performance in seconds

Ask AI