Answer:
Introduction:
To check whether (-2x-5) is a factor of p(x)=3x^4+5x^3-2x^2-4 or not, we will be using the factor theorem and synthetic division method.
Factor Theorem:
The Factor Theorem states that, if a polynomial p(x) is exactly divisible by a linear factor (x-a), then p(a) = 0.
So, to check whether (-2x-5) is a factor of p(x), we need to check whether p(-5/2) = 0 or not.
Synthetic Division:
Synthetic division is a shorthand method of polynomial division in which only coefficients are used.
Let's use synthetic division to divide p(x) by (-2x-5).
First, we will set up the synthetic division table:
```
-5/2 | 3 5 -2 0 -4
|_____|_____|_____|_____
```
Then, we bring down the first coefficient:
```
-5/2 | 3 5 -2 0 -4
|_____|_____|_____|_____
3
```
Next, we multiply -5/2 by 3 and write the result under the next coefficient:
```
-5/2 | 3 5 -2 0 -4
|_____|_____|_____|_____
3 -45/2
```
Then, we add the two coefficients:
```
-5/2 | 3 5 -2 0 -4
|_____|_____|_____|_____
3 -45/2 65/4
```
We continue this process until we reach the last coefficient:
```
-5/2 | 3 5 -2 0 -4
|_____|_____|_____|_____
3 -45/2 65/4 0 0
```
The last two coefficients are both 0, which means (-2x-5) is a factor of p(x).
Conclusion:
Using the factor theorem and synthetic division method, we have shown that (-2x-5) is a factor of p(x)=3x^4+5x^3-2x^2-4.