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: 56

Answer

$$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)= -\dfrac{1}{2}x^3 +2x^2+\dfrac{11}{2}x-15 }}$$

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 $\bf{2 }$, $\bf{ -3 }$, and $\bf{5 }$, so let's make them into factors of our polynomial. If $\bf{ 2 }$ is a zero then: $( 2 +n)=0$ $n= -2 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x -2 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ 2 }$, $(x -2 )=0$ If $\bf{ -3 }$ is a zero then: $( -3 +n)=0$ $n= 3 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x +3 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ -3 }$, $(x +3 )=0$ If $\bf{ 5 }$ is a zero then: $( 5 +n)=0$ $n= -5 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x-5 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ 5 }$, $(x -5 )=0$ Now we have three factors of our 3rd degree polynomial: $\bf{(x-2 )(x +3 )(x-5 )}$, which, multiplied by some unknown factor $a$, make up our function: $f(x)=a(x-2 )(x +3 )(x-5 )$ If $f( 3 )= 6 $ then ${(3-2 )(3 +3 )(3-5 )}$ times some number $a$, equals $ 6 $ or: $f( 3 )= 6 =a(3-2 )(3 +3 )(3-5 ) $ $6 =a(1 )(6 )(-2 ) $ $6 =a(-12)$ $-\dfrac{6}{12}=a$ $\bf{a= -\dfrac{1}{2} }$ Now that we have the value of $a$, we can find $f(x)$ $f(x)= -\dfrac{1}{2}(x-2 )(x +3 )(x-5 ) $ $f(x)= -\dfrac{1}{2}(x^2+x-6 )(x-5 ) $ $f(x)= -\dfrac{1}{2}(x^3 -4x^2-11x+30 ) $ $$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)= -\dfrac{1}{2}x^3 +2x^2+\dfrac{11}{2}x-15 }}$$
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