Lesson Plan: Factor Theorem Mathematics
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to use the factor theorem to factor polynomials, especially cubic polynomials.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- understand and recall the factor theorem,
- use the factor theorem to verify that a linear expression is a factor of a polynomial,
- find unknowns in a polynomial expression given a linear factor by using the factor theorem,
- use the factor theorem to fully factor cubic expressions (with a small integer root) and draw their graphs,
- use the factor theorem to fully factor quartic expressions given one of the factors.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- factoring polynomial functions given a factor by using long division,
- drawing graphs of factored polynomial functions (up to quartic) given their roots.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- the remainder theorem,
- factoring polynomial expressions of higher order than three when no factors are given.
