College Algebra (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321979478
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-947-6

Chapter 5 - Section 5.5 - The Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function - 5.5 Assess Your Understanding - Page 388: 68

Answer

$x\displaystyle \in\left\{-4,\ -\frac{1}{2},\ 2\right\}$

Work Step by Step

We try to find rational zeros of $f(x)=2x^{4}+x^{3}-24x^{2}+20x+16$ There are at most 4 real zeros. Possible rational zeros: $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}=\frac{\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 4,\pm 8,\pm 16}{\pm 1,\pm 2}$ Testing with synthetic division, ... we eventually try $x-2$ $\left.\begin{array}{l} 2 \ \ |\\ \\ \\ \end{array}\right.\begin{array}{rrrrrr} 2 & 1 & -24 & 20 &16 \\\hline & 4 & 10 & -28 & -16 \\\hline 2& 5 & -14 &-8 & |\ \ 0 \end{array}$ $f(x)=(x-2)(2x^{3}+5x^{2}-14x-8)$ Testing with synthetic division, ... again, try $x-2$ $\left.\begin{array}{l} 2 \ \ |\\ \\ \\ \end{array}\right.\begin{array}{rrrrrr} 2 & 5 & -14 &-8 \\\hline & 4 & 18 & +8 \\\hline 2& 9 &4 & |\ \ 0 \end{array}$ $f(x)=(x-2)^{2}(2x^{2}+9x+4)$ Testing with synthetic division, ... try $x+4$ $\left.\begin{array}{l} -4 \ \ |\\ \\ \\ \end{array}\right.\begin{array}{rrrrrr} 2 & 9 & 4 \\\hline & -8 & -4 \\\hline 2 &1 & |\ \ 0 \end{array}$ $f(x)=(x-2)^{2}(x+4)(2x+1)=(x-2)^{2}(x+4)\displaystyle \cdot 2(x+\frac{1}{2})$ $f(x)=(x-2)^{2}(x+4)\displaystyle \cdot 2(x+\frac{1}{2})=0 $ when $x\displaystyle \in\left\{-4,\ -\frac{1}{2},\ 2\right\}$
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