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 - 4.5 The Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function - 4.5 Assess Your Understanding - Page 233: 54

Answer

$\{-2,-1,2,2 \}$, $f(x)=(x+2)(x+1)(x-2)^2$

Work Step by Step

Step 1. Given $f(x)=x^4-x^3-6x^2+4x+8$, list possible rational zeros as $\frac{p}{q}=\pm1,\pm2,\pm4,\pm8$ Step 2. Use synthetic division as shown in the figure to find two zero $x=2,-1$. Step 3. Use the quotient to solve $x^2-4=0$ or $x^2=4$, thus $x=-2,2$ Step 4. Thus the real zeros are $\{-2,-1,2,2 \}$ and we can factor the function as $f(x)=(x+2)(x+1)(x-2)^2$
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