College Algebra (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32178-228-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-32178-228-1

Chapter 3 - Polynomial and Rational Functions - Exercise Set 3.4 - Page 387: 48

Answer

$x\in \left\{-\frac{5}{2}, -\sqrt 3, \sqrt 3, 1 \right \}$

Work Step by Step

See The Rational Zero Theorem: If $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}$ is a zero of the polynomial $f(x)$ with integer coefficients, then $p$ is a factor of the constant term, $a_{0}$, and $q$ is a factor of the leading coefficient, $a_{n}$. ------------------------ $f(x)=2x^4+3x^{3}-11x^{2}-9x+15$ a. Candidates for zeros, $\frac{p}{q}:$ $p:\qquad \pm 1, \pm 3, \pm5, \pm15$ $q:\qquad \pm 1, \pm 2$ $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}:\qquad \pm 1, \pm 3,\pm 5, \pm 15, \pm \frac{1}{2}, \pm \frac{3}{2},\pm \frac{5}{2},\pm \frac{15}{2}$ b. Try for $x=1:$ $\begin{array}{lllll} \underline{1}| &2 & 3 & -11 & -9 & 15\\ & &2 & 5 & -6& -15\\ & -- & -- & -- & --\\ & 2 & 5 & -6 & -15 & |\underline{0} \end{array}$ $1$ is a zero, $f(x)=(x-1)(2x^3+5x^{2} -6x-15)$, To solve for the Quadrinomial, Try for $x=\frac{-5}{2}:$ $\begin{array}{lllll} \underline{\frac{-5}{2}}| & 2 & 5 & -6 & -15\\ & & -5 & 0 & 15\\ & -- & -- & -- & --\\ & 2 & 0 & -6 & |\underline{0} \end{array}$ $\frac{-5}{2}$ is a zero, $f(x)=(x+\frac{5}{2})(x-1)(2x^{2} -6)$, c. To solve for the quadratic, set it equal to $0$, $2x^2-6=0$, $x= \pm \sqrt 3$ $f(x)=(x+\frac{5}{2})(x-1)(x -\sqrt 3)(x+\sqrt 3)$ The zeros of f satisfy $f(x)=0$, $(x+\frac{5}{2})(x-1)(x -\sqrt 3)(x+\sqrt 3)=0$ $x\displaystyle \in\left\{\frac{-5}{2}, -\sqrt 3, \sqrt 3, 1 \right\}$
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