Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions, A Unit Circle Approach to Trigonometry (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32193-104-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-32193-104-7

Chapter 3 - Polynomial and Rational Functions - Chapter Review - Review Exercises - Page 268: 27

Answer

$ x^3-14x^2+65 x -102$

Work Step by Step

The Conjugate Pairs Theorem states that when a polynomial has real coefficients, then any complex zeros occur in conjugate pairs. This means that, when $(p +i \ q)$ is a zero of a polynomial function with real number coefficients, then its conjugate $(p –i q)$, is also a zero of the function. We notice that the function has a degree of $3$. Thus, it has $3$ complex/real zeros. We are given $1$ complex zero and $1$ real zero. Thus, we know that the last zero must be complex, since complex zeros come in pairs. Thus, the remaining zero is: $4-i$, which is the conjugate of $4-i$, by the Conjugate Pairs Theorem. We can use the zeros to form factors, which we multiply to find the polynomial: $f(x)=(x-6) [x-(4+i)][x-(4-i)] \\=(x-6) [(x-4)^2 -i^2] \\=(x-6) (x^2-8x+16+1) \\ = x^3-14x^2+65 x -102$
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