Chapter 4: Problem 13
One or more zeros are given for each polynomial. Find all remaining zeros. \(P(x)=x^{3}-x^{2}-4 x-6 ; \quad 3\) is a zero.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The zeros of the polynomial are 3, \(-1 + i\), and \(-1 - i\).
Step by step solution
01
Verify the Given Zero
To confirm that 3 is a zero of the polynomial, substitute 3 into the polynomial equations. If it equals 0, then 3 is a zero.\[P(3) = 3^3 - 3^2 - 4(3) - 6 = 27 - 9 - 12 - 6 = 0\]Thus, 3 is indeed a zero of the polynomial.
02
Use Synthetic Division
Perform synthetic division of the polynomial by \(x-3\), since 3 is a given zero. We write the coefficients of the polynomial and apply synthetic division:\(\begin{array}{r|rrrr}3 & 1 & -1 & -4 & -6 \ & & 3 & 6 & 6 \\hline & 1 & 2 & 2 & 0 \\end{array}\)The remainder is 0, and the quotient is \(x^2 + 2x + 2\).
03
Find the Zeros of the Quotient
To find the remaining zeros of the polynomial, set the quotient equation \(x^2 + 2x + 2 = 0\) equal to zero and solve for \(x\) using the quadratic formula:\[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]where \(a = 1, b = 2, c = 2\).\[x = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{2^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 2}}{2 \cdot 1} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{4 - 8}}{2} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{-4}}{2} = \frac{-2 \pm 2i}{2}\]Simplifying gives:\[x = -1 \pm i\]
04
List All Zeros of the Polynomial
Combine the given zero with the zeros obtained from the quadratic formula:- The given zero of the polynomial is 3.- The zeros from the quotient are \(-1 + i\) and \(-1 - i\).Thus, the complete list of zeros of the polynomial is 3, \(-1 + i\), and \(-1 - i\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a simplified way of dividing a polynomial by a linear factor of the form \(x-c\), where \(c\) is a constant. This method is particularly useful because it is less tedious and faster than traditional polynomial division.
To perform synthetic division:
To perform synthetic division:
- Write down the coefficients of the polynomial. For example, in the polynomial \(P(x)=x^{3}-x^{2}-4x-6\), the coefficients are 1, -1, -4, and -6.
- Write the number corresponding to the linear factor. For \(x-3\), this would be 3.
- Start by bringing down the first coefficient (1 in this case) to the row below.
- Multiply this number by the constant from the factor (3) and write it under the next coefficient.
- Add the next coefficient and the result from the previous multiplication and write the result below the line.
- Repeat the process with each coefficient.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful mathematical tool used to find the roots of any quadratic equation of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
The formula is:\[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]To use it effectively:
The formula is:\[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]To use it effectively:
- Identify the coefficients \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) from your quadratic equation. Here, \(a=1\), \(b=2\), and \(c=2\).
- Substitute these values into the quadratic formula.
- Calculate the discriminant, \(b^2 - 4ac\). If it is positive, you'll find two real roots. If it's zero, there is one real root. If negative, the roots are complex numbers.
- Complete the calculations to find the values of \(x\).
Complex Numbers
Complex numbers are numbers that include both a real component and an imaginary component. The imaginary unit is \(i\), defined by the property \(i^2 = -1\).
They are expressed in the form \(a + bi\), where \(a\) is the real part, and \(b\) multiplied by \(i\) is the imaginary part. For our polynomial quotient, we found the roots \(-1 + i\) and \(-1 - i\).
Understanding complex numbers:
They are expressed in the form \(a + bi\), where \(a\) is the real part, and \(b\) multiplied by \(i\) is the imaginary part. For our polynomial quotient, we found the roots \(-1 + i\) and \(-1 - i\).
Understanding complex numbers:
- They are essential in scenarios where equations have no real solutions (for example, when the discriminant is negative).
- They help in describing periodic processes and waves, making them crucial in engineering and physics.
- The arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) on complex numbers are often similar to real numbers, but pay attention to the \(i^2\) rule.