Question

If (3x - 1) is a factor of 9x^4-ax^2-3x-1 find the value of a

Answer 1

Answer:

a= -17

Step-by-step explanation:

We will be using the remainder theorem to find the answer to this problem

let p(x)= 9x^4-ax^2-3x -1

As it is given that (3x-1) is a factor of p(x) so the remainder will be=0

R=0

p(x)=0

9x^4-ax^2-3x-1=0

using the remainder theorem we get, 3x-1=0, 3x=1, x=1/3

9(1/3)^4-a(1/3)^2-3(1/3)-1=0

9(1/81)-a(1/9)-3(1/3)-1=0

1/9-a/9-1-1=0

1/9-2-a/9=0

-17/9-a/9=0

-a/9=17/9

-a=17/9*9/1

-a=17

a=17