Find p(0), p(1) and p(2) for each of the following polynomials:
(i) p(y) = y2 − y + 1 (ii) p(t) = 2 + t + 2t2 − t3
(iii) p(x) = x3 (iv) p(x) = (x − 1) (x + 1)
(i) p(y) = y2 − y + 1
p(0) = (0)2 − (0) + 1 = 1
p(1) = (1)2 − (1) + 1 = 1
p(2) = (2)2 − (2) + 1 = 3
(ii) p(t) = 2 + t + 2t2 − t3
p(0) = 2 + 0 + 2 (0)2 − (0)3 = 2
p(1) = 2 + (1) + 2(1)2 − (1)3
= 2 + 1 + 2 − 1 = 4
p(2) = 2 + 2 + 2(2)2 − (2)3
= 2 + 2 + 8 − 8 = 4
(iii) p(x) = x3
p(0) = (0)3 = 0
p(1) = (1)3 = 1
p(2) = (2)3 = 8
(iv) p(x) = (x − 1) (x + 1)
p(0) = (0 − 1) (0 + 1) = (− 1) (1) = − 1
p(1) = (1 − 1) (1 + 1) = 0 (2) = 0
p(2) = (2 − 1 ) (2 + 1) = 1(3) = 3