Precalculus (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 013421742X
ISBN 13: 978-0-13421-742-0

Chapter 3 - Polynomial and Rational Functions - 3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions - 3.3 Exercises - Page 337: 54

Answer

$$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)=\dfrac{1}{2}x^3-\dfrac{1}{2}x }}$$

Work Step by Step

We are given three zeros of a polynomial and the value of the function for a given ${x}$: Our zeros are $\bf{1 }$, $\bf{ -1 }$, and $\bf{ 0 }$, so let's make them into factors of our polynomial. If $\bf{ 1 }$ is a zero then: $( 1 +n)=0$ $n= -1 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x -1 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ 1 }$, $(x -1 )=0$ If $\bf{ -1 }$ is a zero then: $( -1 +n)=0$ $n= 1 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x +1 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ -1 }$, $(x+1 )=0$ If $\bf{ 0 }$ is a zero then: $( 0 +n)=0$ $n= 0 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x )}$ because $(x)=\bf{ 0 }$ Now we have three factors of our 3rd degree polynomial: $\bf{(x-1 )(x+1 )(x )}$, which, multiplied by some unknown factor $a$, make up our function: $f(x)=a(x -1 )(x+1 )(x )$ If $f( 2 )= 3 $ then ${(2 -1 )(2+1 )(2 )}$ times some number $a$, equals $ 3 $ or: $f( 2 )= 3 =a (2 -1 )(2+1 )(2 ) $ $3 =a (1 )(3 )(2 ) $ $ 3 =a(6)$ $\dfrac{3}{6} =a$ $\bf{a= \dfrac{1}{2} }$ Now that we have the value of $a$, we can find $f(x)$ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{2} (x -1 )(x+1 )(x ) $ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{2} (x^2-1)(x ) $ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{2} (x^3-x) $ $$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)=\dfrac{1}{2}x^3-\dfrac{1}{2}x }}$$
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