Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305071751
ISBN 13: 978-1-30507-175-9

Chapter 3 - Section 3.4 - Real Zeros of Polynomials - 3.4 Exercises - Page 283: 16

Answer

zeros: $-2, -1,$ and $7$ $P(x)=(x+1)(x+2)(x-7)$

Work Step by Step

$P(x)=x^{3}-4x^{2}-19x-14$ $a_{0}=-14 \qquad $p: $\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 7,\pm 14$ $a_{n}=1,\qquad $q: $\pm 1, $ Possible rational zeros $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}:\quad \pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 7,\pm 14$ Test $x=-1 $ by synthetic division: $\left[\begin{array}{lllllll} \underline{-1|} & 1 & -4 & -19 & -14 & & \\ & & -1 & 5 & 14 & & \\ & -- & -- & -- & -- & & \\ & 1 & -5 & -14 & \underline{|0} & \Rightarrow & P(-1)=0, \end{array}\right.$ $1$ is a zero, $(x+1) $ is a factor of $P(x).$ The bottom row gives coefficients of the quotient. $P(x)=x^{3}-4x^{2}-19x-14=(x+1)(x^{2}-5x-14)$ We can factor the second parentheses: find factors of $-14$ that add to $-5$ ... ($2$ and $-7$) $P(x)=(x+1)(x+2)(x-7)$ So, the zeros are $-2, -1,$ and $7$
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