Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th Edition

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

Chapter 3 - Section 3.4 - Real Zeros of Polynomials - 3.4 Exercises - Page 284: 25

Answer

$P(x)=(x-1)(x+1)(x+2)(x-2)$ Zeros: $-2, -1, 1$ and $2$

Work Step by Step

$P(x)=x^{4}-5x^{2}+4,$ ($2$ sign variation, we expect 0 or 2 positive real zero) $P(-x)=x^{4}-5x^{2}+4,$ (2 sign variations, we expect 0 or 2 negative real zeros) $a_{0}=-3, \quad $p: $\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 4,$ $a_{n}=1,\qquad $q: $\pm 1. $ Possible rational zeros $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}:\quad$ $\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 4.$ Test $x= 1 $ by synthetic division: $\left[\begin{array}{lllllll} \underline{1|} & 1 & 0 & -5 & 0 & 4 & \\ & & 1 & 1 & -4 & -4 & \\ & -- & -- & -- & -- & -- & \\ & 1 & 1 & -4 & -4 & \underline{|0} & \Rightarrow P(1)=0, \end{array}\right.$ $P(x)=(x-1)(x^{3}+x^{2}-4x-4)$ To factor the parentheses, group terms two by two, $x^{3}+x^{2}-4x-4=x^{2}(x+1)-4(x+1)$ $=(x+1)(x^{2}-4)$ ... difference of squares ... $=(x+1)(x+2)(x-2)$ $P(x)=(x-1)(x+1)(x+2)(x-2)$ Zeros: $-2, -1, 1$ and $2$
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