Second-degree equation - brief explanation

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Second-degree equation - brief explanation

by gander123 » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:10 am
Hey folks,

I've just reviewed Q62 (Data Sufficiency) from the Quant. Review of the OG (2nd ed.).
In doing so I was wondering about the answer explanation for this question. There was one thing I got really stuck with:

Q62:

"In the equation x²+bx+12=0, x is a variable and b is a constant. What is the value of b?"

(1) x-3 is a factor of x²+bx+12.

I fully understood 2 of the possible 3 Methods explained to solve this problem. But I was struggling with this one:

Method 3: The value of b can be found by long division (no issue to understand the long division):

x²+bx+12 : (x-3) = x + (3+b) + (3b+21)/(x-3)

So the remainder is obviously (3b+21).

Then, I have a problem with the following statement in the answer explanation:

"Since the remainder must be 0, it follows that 3b+21=0,or b=-7;SUFFICIENT"

Why is it that the remainder must be 0 ???

Can anyone help?

Kind regards,

Tobi
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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by das.ashmita » Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:16 am
Hi Tobi

Its specified that x²+bx+12=0 is divisible by (x-3). So the remainder has to be 0. :)

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by gander123 » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:16 am
Hey ashmita,

The remainder has to be 0 otherwise the equation would not be divisible by (x-3)... logically thats correct isnt it ?!

Sorry for the small challenge but I kind of got lost on this one...

:))

brgds

tobi