[Math] the remainder when $x^{100} -8x^{99}+12x^{98}-3x^{10}+24x^{9}-36x^{8}+3x^{2}-29x + 41$ is divided by: $x^2-8x+12$.

algebra-precalculus

What is the remainder when: $$x^{100} -8x^{99}+12x^{98}-3x^{10}+24x^{9}-36x^{8}+3x^{2}-29x + 41$$ is divided by: $$x^2-8x+12$$

$x^2-8x+12$ $\leftrightarrow (x-2)(x-6)$

This gives me the polynomial: $(x-2)(x-6)k(x) + r(x)$, where $r(x)$ is the remainder.

The expression gives me the remainder when $x=2$ or $x = 6$

By replacing $x$ with $2$ into the original polynomial you get: $$x^{100} – 4x^{100}+3x^{100}-3x^{10}+12x^{10}-9x^{10}+3x^{2}-29x + 41 = 3x^2-29x + 41$$

By plugging in $2$ I get: $12-58 + 41 = -5$.

Hence $r(x)$ should be: $-5$.

This is apparently the wrong answer. What did I do wrong?

Thank you kindly for your help!

Best Answer

First note that $r(x)=ax+b$ for some $a,b\in\mathbb Z$
For $x=2$ you get $r(2)=-5$ (not $r(x)=-5$) $ \Rightarrow 2a+b=-5$. Do the same for $x=6$ to find r(6).Then find $a,b$.