$(x + 1)$ is a factor of $x^{3} + ax^{2} + 2x + 1$ if $a$ equals

$(x + 1)$ is a factor of $x^{3} + ax^{2} + 2x + 1$ if $a$ equals
  1. $2$
  2. $0$
  3. $-1$
  4. $1$

Solution

$p(-1) = -1 + a - 2 + 1 = a - 2 = 0 \Rightarrow a = 2$.

Asked in: MH-SSC-9

Practice more Polynomials questions on Aicharya