Precalculus (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 013421742X
ISBN 13: 978-0-13421-742-0

Chapter 3 - Polynomial and Rational Functions - 3.3 Zeros of Polynomial Functions - 3.3 Exercises - Page 337: 57

Answer

$$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}x^3+\dfrac{3}{2}x^2+\dfrac{9}{2}x+\dfrac{9}{2} }}$$

Work Step by Step

We are given three zeros of a polynomial and the value of the function for a given ${x}$: Our zeros are $\bf{-3 }$ with a multiplicity of 3, so let's make it into factors of our polynomial. If $\bf{ -3 }$ is a zero then: $( -3 +n)=0$ $n= 3 $ so our factor is $\bf{(x +3 )}$ because when $x=\bf{ -3 }$, $(x +3 )=0$ $(x+3)$ with a multiplicity 3 equals $(x+3)^3$ Now we have three factors of our 3rd degree polynomial: $\bf{(x+3 )(x+3 )(x+3 )}$, which, multiplied by some unknown factor $a$, make up our function: $f(x)=a(x+3 )^3$ If $f( 3 )= 36 $ then ${( 3+3 )^3}$ times some number $a$, equals $ 36 $ or: $f( 3 )= 36 =a(6)^3 $ $36 =a(6)^3$ $36=a(36)(6)$ $1=a(6)$ $\bf{a=\dfrac{1}{6} }$ Now that we have the value of $a$, we can find $f(x)$ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}(x+3 )^3 $ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}(x^2+6x+9)(x+3) $ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}(x^3+6x^2+9x+3x^2+18x+27)$ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}(x^3+9x^2+27x+27)$ $f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}x^3+\dfrac{9}{6}x^2+\dfrac{27}{6}x+\dfrac{27}{6}$ $$\color{blue}{\bf{f(x)= \dfrac{1}{6}x^3+\dfrac{3}{2}x^2+\dfrac{9}{2}x+\dfrac{9}{2} }}$$
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