Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305071751
ISBN 13: 978-1-30507-175-9

Chapter 3 - Review - Exercises - Page 321: 48

Answer

-2, -1, 1, and 2 of multiplicity one See graph below.

Work Step by Step

The question asks for all real zeros of P(x), their respective multiplicities, and the graph of P(x) Given $P(x) = x^4 - 5x^2 + 4$ $P(x) = (x^2 - 4) (x^2 - 1)$ $P(x) = (x-2)(x+2)(x-1)(x+1)$ Set $P(x) = 0$ Thus x = -2, -1, 1, 2 To determine multiplicity, it is the power of the root determined from setting P(x) = 0 So -2, -1, 1, and 2 of multiplicity one See graph below.
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