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: 38

Answer

Zeros: $\displaystyle \frac{1}{2},\frac{3}{2}$ and $-\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}.\quad P(x)=(2x-1)(2x-3)(3x+1)$

Work Step by Step

$P(x)=12x^{3}-20x^{2}+x+3,$ ($2$ sign variations, we expect 2 or 0 real zeros) $P(-x)=-12x^{3}-20x^{2}-x+3,$ ($1$ sign variations, we expect $1$ negative real zero) $a_{0}=3, \quad $p: $\pm 1,\pm 3,$ $a_{n}=12,\qquad $q: $\pm 1.,\pm 2,\pm 3,\pm 4,\pm 6,\pm 12 $ Possible rational zeros $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}:\quad$ with synthetic division, we try 1/2, 1, 3/2,... $\begin{array}{r|rrrrrr}\hline 1/2 & 12 & -20 & 1 & 3 \\ & & 6 & -7 & -3 \\ \hline & 12 & -14 & -6 & 0 \\ & & & & P(x)&=(x-\displaystyle \frac{1}{2})(12x^{2}-14x-6) \\\\ 3/2 & 12 & -14 & -6 & \\ & & 18 & 6 & \\ \hline & 12 & 4 & 0 & \\ & & & & P(x)&=(x-\displaystyle \frac{1}{2})(x-\frac{3}{2})(12x+4) \\\\ - 1/3 & 12 & 4 & & \\ & & -4 & & \\ \hline & 12 & 0 & & \\ \hline \end{array}$ $P(x)=(x-\displaystyle \frac{1}{2})(x-\frac{3}{2})(x+\frac{1}{3})\cdot 12$ $= 2(x-\displaystyle \frac{1}{2})\cdot 2(x-\frac{3}{2})\cdot 3(x+\frac{1}{3})$ $=(2x-1)(2x-3)(3x+1)$
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.