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: 98

Answer

$\{-4,2\pm\sqrt 2\}$

Work Step by Step

Step 1. Given $f(x)=x^3-14x+8$, we can list possible rational zeros as $\pm1,\pm2,\pm4,\pm8$ Step 2. There are 2 sign changes in $f(x)$ indicating that there could be 2 or 0 positive real zeros. Step 3. $f(-x)=-x^3+14x+8$, 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 $x^2-4x+2=0$ which gives $x=\frac{4\pm\sqrt {4^2-4(2)}}{2}=2\pm\sqrt 2$ Step 6. The zeros are $\{-4,2\pm\sqrt 2\}$
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