FINDING ZEROS OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

1. f(x) = 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8

Factor theorem: 8 = 1, 2, 4, 8 = 1, 2, 4, 8 1 2 4 8
3 1, 3 3 3 3 3

f(+1) = 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8
= 3(1)
3
5(1)
2
6(1) +8
= 0
f(+2) = 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8
= 3(2)
3
5(2)
2
6(2) +8
= 24 20 12 + 8
= 0
f(-4/3) = 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8
= 3(-4/3)
3
5(-4/3)
2
6(-4/3) +8
= 0
We could now say the (x-1) (x-2) (3x+4) are factors of 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8.

Using synthetic division:

+1 3 -5 -6 8
3 -2 -8
3 -2 -8 0


+2 3 -5 -6 8
6 2 -8
3 1 -4 0

The depressed equation when we divide x-1 to 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8 is 3x
2
2x 8
while (x-2) is 3x
2
+ x 4
Factoring:
Since 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8 = (x-1) (3x
2
2x 8)
3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8 = (x-1) (x-2) (3x+4)

So the following are the zeros of polynomial function 3x
3
5x
2
6x + 8

x = +1
x = +2
x = -4/3

2. f(x) = 3x
3
x
2
10x +8

Factor theorem: 8 = 1, 2, 4, 8 = 1, 2, 4, 8 1 2 4 8
3 1, 3 3 3 3 3

3. f(+1) = 3x
3
x
2
10x +8
= 3(1)
3
(1)
2
10(1) - 8
= 0
1. f(-2) = 3x
3
x
2
10x +8
= 3(-2)
3
(-2)
2
10(-2) - 8
= 0
1. f(-4/3) = 3x
3
x
2
10x +8
= 3(-4/3)
3
(-4/3)
2
10(-4/3) - 8
= 0
We could now say the (x-1) (x+2) (3x+4) are factors of 3x
3
x
2
10x +8

Using synthetic division:

+1 3 -1 -10 +8
3 2 -8
3 2 -8 0


-2 3 -1 -10 8
-6 14 -8
3 -7 4 0

The depressed equation when we divide x-1 to 3x
3
x
2
10x +8 is 3x
2
+ 2x 8
while (x+2) is 3x
2
7 x + 4

Factoring:
Since 3x
3
x
2
10x +8 = (x-1) (3x
2
+ 2x 8)
3x
3
x
2
10x +8 = (x-1) (x+2) (3x+4)

So the following are the zeros of polynomial function 3x
3
x
2
10x +8

x = +1
x = -2
x = -4/3



2. f(x) = x
3
7x + 6 .

Factor theorem: 6 = 1, 2, 3, 6


f(+1) = x
3
7x + 6
= (1)
3
7(1) + 6
= 0
f(+2) = x
3
7x + 6
= (2)
3
7(2) + 6
= 0
f(-3) = x
3
7x + 6
= (-3)
3
7(-3) + 6
= 0

We could now say the (x-1) (x-2) (x+3) are factors of x
3
7x + 6

Using synthetic division:

+1 1 0 -7 6
1 1 -6
1 1 -6 0

+2 1 0 -7 6
2 4 -6
1 2 -3 0

-3 1 0 -7 6
-3 9 -6
1 -3 2 0

The depressed equation when we divide x-1 to x
3
7x + 6 +8 is x
2
+ x 6
while (x-2) is x
2
+ 2x 3, and (x+3) is x
2
- 3x + 2

Factoring:
Since x
3
7x + 6 = (x-1) (x
2
+ x 6)
x
3
7x + 6 = (x-1) (x-2) (x+3)

So the following are the zeros of polynomial function of x
3
7x + 6

x = +1
x = +2
x = -3