(9.) (i) Given that \( 2 x^{4}+3 x^{3}+a x^{2}-2=x(x+3)(x-1) Q(x)+4 x^{2}+b x+c \) is an identity, state the degree of the polynomial \( Q(x) \). (ii) Find the value of \( a \), of \( b \) and of \( c \). Hence, find the remainder when \( 2 x^{4}+3 x^{3}+a x^{2}-2 \) is divided by \( (x+1) \).
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To tackle part (i), we start by recognizing that the left side of the equation is a polynomial of degree 4 due to the term \( 2x^4 \). The right side is structured as \( x(x+3)(x-1)Q(x) + 4x^2 + bx + c \). The product \( x(x+3)(x-1) \) is a polynomial of degree 3, so when multiplied by \( Q(x) \), the degree of \( Q(x) \) must be 1 to match the overall degree of 4 on the left-hand side. Thus, the degree of \( Q(x) \) is 1. For part (ii), to find the coefficients \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \), we can equate the coefficients of the polynomial on both sides. 1. Expand \( x(x+3)(x-1) \) to obtain \( x^3 + 2x^2 - 3x \). Hence, \( (x^3 + 2x^2 - 3x)Q(x) + 4x^2 + bx + c \) equals \( 2x^4 + 3x^3 + ax^2 - 2 \). 2. Assume \( Q(x) = mx + n \); then multiply out to match coefficients. 3. Comparing coefficients of \( x^4 \) gives \( m = 2 \). For \( x^3 \): \( 2m + n = 3 \). Substitute \( m = 2 \) to find \( n = -1 \). 4. For \( x^2 \): \( 4 + 2n = a \) leads to \( a = 2 \). For \( x^1 \): \( -3m + b = 0 \) implies \( b = 6 \). Lastly, constant term comparison shows \( c = -2 \). In summary, \( a = 2 \), \( b = 6 \), \( c = -2 \). Now, to find the remainder when dividing \( 2x^4 + 3x^3 + 2x^2 - 2 \) by \( x + 1 \), we can use the Remainder Theorem: \( R(-1) \) where \( R(x) = 2x^4 + 3x^3 + 2x^2 - 2 \) gives \( R(-1) = 2(-1)^4 + 3(-1)^3 + 2(-1)^2 - 2 = 2 - 3 + 2 - 2 = -1 \). Thus, the remainder is -1.