Holy out-of-scope, Batmansparkle6 wrote:Find the value of 'a' if a(x^3) + 9(x^2) + 4x - 10 when divided by (x+3) leaves a remainder of 10.
a. -2
b. -1
c. 0
d. 1
e. 2
(Though this question is out of scope, I tried solving the question as the soln requires only high school standard mathematics. But I am not able to do so 
) 
: :roll: 
Yes, this is definitely a high-school-level question, but still out of scope GMAT-wise.chetansharma wrote: @Brent,
I have tried solving the question using the synthetic division method, but not able to get the answer. Please check the solution below and let me know where I am going wrong.
-3| a 9 4 -10
| -3a 9a-27 -27a+69
-------------------------------
a -3a+9 9a-23 -27a+59
As the remainder is stated as 10, -27a+59 = 10 => a= 49/27
Please let me know, where am I going wrong.
So I have solved it correctlyBrent@GMATPrepNow wrote:Yes, this is definitely a high-school-level question, but still out of scope GMAT-wise.chetansharma wrote: @Brent,
I have tried solving the question using the synthetic division method, but not able to get the answer. Please check the solution below and let me know where I am going wrong.
-3| a 9 4 -10
| -3a 9a-27 -27a+69
-------------------------------
a -3a+9 9a-23 -27a+59
As the remainder is stated as 10, -27a+59 = 10 => a= 49/27
Please let me know, where am I going wrong.
Nevertheless, let's solve the question.
The Remainder Theorem says something like: If f(x) divided by x-k leaves a remainder of z, then f(k) = z
So, we are told that f(x) = a(x^3) + 9(x^2) + 4x - 10, and we are told that f(x) divided by x+3 leaves a remainder of 10.
The Remainder Theorem tells us that f(-3) must equal 10
When we plug x = -3 into the function we get:
a(-3)^3 + 9(-3)^2 + 4(-3) - 10 = 10
Simplifying, we get -27a + 81 - 12 - 10 = 10
Simplifying more: -27a = -49
So, a = 49/27
Cheers,
Brent
I agree 100%.saketk wrote:Brent - again, this is a CAT (common admission test) type of question.. this exam is held for admission in IIMs (indian institute of management ) -
the options given are also incorrect. - though this one is simple but I guess we need a Beat the CAT for these questions.
