College Algebra (10th Edition)

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

Chapter 5 - Section 5.6 - Complex Numbers; Quadratic Equations in the Complex Number System - 5.6 Assess Your Understanding - Page 395: 34

Answer

$f(x)=(x+5)(x+4-i)(x+4+i)$ Zeros: $-5,\ \ -4+i,\ \ -4-i$

Work Step by Step

Degree 3: there are 3 complex zeros. First, rational zero candidates: $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}=\frac{\pm 1,\pm 5,\pm 17,\pm 85}{\pm 1}$ Trying synthetic division, ... $x+5$ $\left.\begin{array}{l} -5 \ \ |\\ \\ \\ \end{array}\right.\begin{array}{rrrrrr} 1 & 13 &57 & 85 \\\hline & -5 & -40 & -85 \\\hline 1 & 8 & 17 & |\ \ 0 \end{array}$ $f(x)=(x+5)(x^{2}+8x+17)$ ... factoring the trinomial, we can't find two factors of $17$ that add up to $8$, so we use the quadratic formula. $x=\displaystyle \frac{-8\pm\sqrt{64-4(17)}}{2}=\frac{-8\pm\sqrt{-4}}{2}=\frac{-8\pm 2i}{2}=-4\pm i$ $f(x)=(x+5)(x+4-i)(x+4+i)$ Zeros: $-5,\ \ -4+i,\ \ -4-i$
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