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 338: 100

Answer

$\{5, -3\pm2\sqrt 3\}$

Work Step by Step

Step 1. Given $f(x)=3x^3-9x^2-31x+5$, we can list possible rational zeros as $\pm1,\pm5,\pm\frac{1}{3},\pm\frac{5}{3}$ Step 2. There are 2 sign changes in $f(x)$ indicating that there could be 2 or 0 positive real zeros. Step 3. $f(-x)=-3x^3-9x^2+31x+5$, there is 1 sign change in $f(-x)$ indicating that there must be 1 negative real zero. Step 4. Use synthetic division to find one real zero as shown in the figure. Step 5. The resulting quotient gives $3x^2+6x-1=0$ which gives $x=\frac{-6\pm\sqrt {6^2+4(3)}}{2}=-3\pm2\sqrt 3$ Step 6. The zeros are $\{5, -3\pm2\sqrt 3\}$
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