Precalculus (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32197-907-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-907-0

Chapter 4 - Polynomial and Rational Functions - 4.1 Polynomial Functions and Models - 4.1 Assess Your Understanding - Page 185: 52

Answer

$f(x)=\frac{-1}{3}(x+2)x(x-2)=\frac{-1}{3}(x^3 - 4 x)$.

Work Step by Step

If $a$ is a zero of a function with multiplicity $b$ then $(x-a)^b$ is a “multiplier” of the function. Hence our function looks like this: $f(x)=k(x+2)x(x-2)=k(x^3 - 4 x)$. Since $(-4,16)$ is on the graph we plug in $x=-4$ to $f(x)$ to get $f(-4)=k((-4)^3 - 4\cdot (-4))=16\\k(-64+16)=16\\-48k=16\\k=\frac{-1}{3}$. Therefore our function is: $f(x)=\frac{-1}{3}(x+2)x(x-2)=\frac{-1}{3}(x^3 - 4 x)$.
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