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 - Section 3.3 Complex Zeros; Fundamental Theorem of Algebra - 3.3 Assess Your Understanding - Page 232: 46

Answer

One of the missing zeros is $4+i$.

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 see that the polynomial function has a degree of $4$, so it has $4$ zeros. $4+i$ is also a zero of the given function since $4-i$ is a zero (by the Conjugate Pairs Theorem). So, the missing fourth zero is $4+i$. The remaining zero must be real because if we had one more complex zero, it would require another complex zero (a new pair) and we would have more than 4 zeros total.
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