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: 21

Answer

$P(x)=(x-5)(x+3)(x+2)$ Zeros: $-3, -2$ and $5$

Work Step by Step

$P(x)=x^{3}-19x-30,$ (1 sign variation, we expect 1 positive real zero) $P(-x)=-x^{3}+19x-30$ (2 sign variations, we expect 0 or 2 negative real zeros) $a_{0}=-30, $p: $\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 3,\pm 5,\pm 6,\pm 10, \pm 15,\pm 30$ $a_{n}=1,\qquad $q: $\pm 1, $ Possible rational zeros $\displaystyle \frac{p}{q}:\quad$ $\pm 1,\pm 2,\pm 3,\pm 5,\pm,\pm 10, \pm 15,\pm 30$ Test $x= 5 $ by synthetic division: $\left[\begin{array}{lllllll} \underline{5|} & 1 & 0 & -19 & -30 & & \\ & & 5 & 25 & 30 & & \\ & -- & -- & -- & -- & & \\ & 1 & 5 & 6 & \underline{|0} & \Rightarrow & P(5)=0, \end{array}\right.$ $P(x)=(x-5)(x^{2}+5x+6)$ To factor the trinomial, search for two factors of $+6$ whose sum is $+5.$ (These are $+3$ and $+2)$ $P(x)=(x-5)(x+3)(x+2)$ Zeros: $-3, -2$ and $5$
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