Transcript Document

5.5 Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions
In this section, we will study the following topics:
The Remainder and Factor Theorems
The Rational Zeros Theorem
Finding the Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function
Solving Polynomial Equations
The Intermediate Value Theorem
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Review Topics
For the next two sections, you will need to know the following:

Polynomial Long Division (pp 44-47)

Synthetic Division (pp 57-60)

Quadratic Formula (pp 102-104)
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Review: Long Division of Polynomials
Example
Divide 1  x  x
3
by
x 1
3
Long Division of Polynomials
Remember, for every division problem the following statement is
true:
Dividend = (divisor) x (quotient) + remainder
e . g . 17  5  3
r2

17  5  3  2
For polynomial division, we express the division algorithm
as:
f ( x)  d ( x) q( x)  r ( x)
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Long Division of Polynomials
Using the previous example, we have
f ( x)  d ( x) q( x)  r ( x)
?


x  x  1   x  1 x  x  1
3
2
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Review: Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a really cool shortcut for dividing polynomials
by divisors in the form x – c.
As with long division, before you start synthetic division, first do the
following:
1.
2.
Arrange the terms in descending order.
Use zero placeholders, where necessary.
NOTE:
If you are dividing by the binomial x - c, then you would use c as the
divisor.
Likewise, if you are dividing by x + c, then you would use (- c) as the
divisor, since x + c = x - (- c).
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Synthetic Division
Example #1
Divide

x
3
 5x  4 x  5   x  3
2
The divisor is x – 3, so c =
Arranging the terms of the dividend in descending order we
have:

So, you would set this synthetic division problem up as:
c
Coefficients of dividend
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Synthetic Division
Example #1 (cont)
Now we are ready to divide.
3 1
4
5
5
8
Synthetic Division
(continued)
Example #2
Use synthetic division to divide:  5 x  6 x  8    x  2 
3
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Quadratic Formula
To solve equations in the form: a x  b x  c  0
2
x 
b 
b  4 ac
2
2a
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The Remainder Theorem
The Remainder Theorem
If a polynomial f(x) is divided by x – c, the remainder r is
the same as the value of f(c).
This means that you can evaluate a polynomial function at a
given value by
-substituting the value into the function,
OR
-using synthetic division to find the remainder.
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The Remainder Theorem
Example
Find f(5) given f(x) = 4x2 –10x – 21
Old, boring method:
f(5) = 4(5)2 –10(5) – 21
Exciting new synthetic
method:
5 4
 10
 21
f(5) =
f(5) =
f(5) =
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The Factor Theorem
The Factor Theorem
A polynomial f(x) has a factor (x – c) iff f(c) = 0.
This theorem tells us that, in order for x – c to be a factor of
the polynomial, the remainder when the polynomial is
divided by x – c must be zero.
That makes sense...
For example, 8 is a factor of 32 since 8 divides into 32
evenly (the remainder is zero.)
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The Importance of the Remainder Theorem
If f(x) is divided by x – c and the remainder is equal to 0, then

(x – c) is a factor of f(x)

If c is a real number, (c, 0) is an x-intercept of the graph of f.
So, from this graph of f(x), we can determine:
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U se the Factor T heorem to determ ine w hether the function
f  x   -2 x - x  4 x  3 has the factor
3
(a) x  1
2
(b) x  1
The Rational Zero Theorem
The Rational Zero Theorem
If the polynomial f(x)=anxn + an-1xn-1 + … + a2x2 + a1x + a0 has integer
p
coefficients, then every rational zero must have the form q , where
p IS A FACTOR OF THE CONSTANT TERM a0 , and
q IS A FACTOR OF THE LEADING COEFFICIENT an.
This theorem will enable us to list all of the potential rational zeros of
a polynomial, using the form
Potential ra tiona l zeros =
factors of the constant ter m
factors of the lead ing c oeffi cient
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List the potential rational zeros of
f  x   3 x  8 x  7 x  12
3
2
Factors of the constant
Factors of the leading coefficient
p :  1,  2,  3,  4,  6,  12
q :  1,  3
p
q
:  1,  2,  3,  4,  6,  12, 
1
3
,
2
3
, 
4
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The Rational Zero Test
Example
Find all potential rational zeros of
f ( x )  2 x  17 x  35 x  9 x  45
4
3
2
Solution
Possible rati onal zeros =
factors of the constant term
factors o f the lea ding coef ficient
p

q
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The Rational Zero Test (continued)
Once you have the list of all potential rational zeros, you need to
use trial and error to test them using synthetic division (or by
substituting them into the function) to determine which ones are actual
zeros. Remember, the remainder (or the functional value) must be
equal to zero.
A Sneaky Technology Shortcut:
You can use the graph or the table of values to find one or more
of the rational zeros, if there are any. Use the fact that a real
zero is an x-intercept of the graph.
Use this zero to perform synthetic division. A zero remainder will
confirm that it is an actual zero.
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The Rational Zero Test (continued)
Example
4
2
Use the Rational Zero Test to find ALL rational zeros of f ( x )  4 x  17 x  4
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Using the Quotient to find the remaining zeros
Each time you divide a polynomial using synthetic division, the
QUOTIENT HAS A DEGREE THAT IS ONE LESS THAN THE
ORIGINAL POLYNOMIAL.
We will use the resulting lower-degree (“depressed”) polynomial
find the remaining zeros.
Your goal is obtain a lower-degree polynomial that is
QUADRATIC. Then you can find the remaining zeros by factoring
or using the quadratic formula.
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Scenario 1: The original polynomial is CUBIC
FIND
ONE RATIONAL ZERO, using the Rational Zero Theorem to
find potential rational zeros and then using the graph to help you
locate one rational zero.
DIVIDE
THE CUBIC POLYNOMIAL BY THE RATIONAL ZERO
using synthetic division.
SOLVE
THE DEPRESSED QUADRATIC EQUATION to find the
remaining zeros (by factoring, completing the square, or quadratic
formula).
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Example #1
Find all real zeros of
f ( x )  3 x  x  16 x  12
3
2
algebraically.
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Example #2
Find all real zeros of
f ( x)  2 x  2 x  5 x  5
3
2
algebraically.
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Scenario 2: The original polynomial is QUARTIC
FIND
TWO RATIONAL ZEROS, using the rational zero test to find
potential rational zeros and then using the graph to help you locate
TWO rational zeros. (Be on the alert for double zeros!)
DIVIDE
THE QUARTIC POLYNOMIAL BY ONE OF THE RATIONAL
ZEROS using synthetic division.
DIVIDE
THE DEPRESSED CUBIC POLYNOMIAL BY THE OTHER
RATIONAL ZERO using synthetic division.
SOLVE
THE DEPRESSED QUADRATIC EQUATION to find the
remaining zeros (by factoring, completing the square, or quadratic
formula).
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f ( x )  x  8 x  14 x  16 x  32
4
3
2
Example #1
Find all real zeros of f ( x )  x 4  8 x 3  14 x 2  16 x  32 algebraically.
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Example #2
Show that -5 and 3 are zeros of f(x) and use this information to write
the complete factorization of f.
f ( x )  2 x  7 x  26 x  49 x  30
4
3
2
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Approximating Zeros of Polynomial Functions
Often we are not able to find the zeros of a polynomial
function algebraically, but we can still approximate the
value of the zero.
We know that the graphs of polynomials are continuous;
therefore, if the sign of the function values (y-values)
changes from negative to positive or vice-versa, we know
that the graph must have passed through the x-axis and
hence, has a zero in that interval.
This result stems from the INTERMEDIATE VALUE
THEOREM.
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Approximating Zeros of Polynomial Functions
We can use the table of values to find the intervals (of length 1) in
which a polynomial function is guaranteed to have a zero.
Example:
The following is a table of polynomial function values.
The functional (y) values change:

from + to – in the interval -4 < x < -3,

from – to + in the interval –1 < x < 0,

from + to – in the interval 0 < x < 1.
So this polynomial function is guaranteed to have a zero in
each of the following intervals: (-4, -3), (-1, 0), and (0, 1).
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Approximating Zeros of Polynomial Functions
Example:
Use the table of values on your calculator to find the intervals
(of length 1) in which the function f ( x )  x 3  5 x 2  3 is
guaranteed to have a zero.
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End of Section 5.5
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