Scribd
Upload
1K views4 pages

Polynomial Problems With Solutions

The document provides solutions to three polynomial problems: 1) A cubic polynomial with coefficients a=1/2, b=0, c=-3/2, d=1. 2) A quartic polynomial with coefficients a=-1/8, b=0, c=1, d=0, e=1. 3) A sextic polynomial factored as (x+2)^2 multiplied by a quadratic with real zeros of (sqrt(5)+1)/2, (sqrt(5)-1)/2, (-sqrt(5)-1)/2, (-sqrt(5)+1)/2.

Uploaded by

Carol Jacinto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views4 pages

Polynomial Problems With Solutions

The document provides solutions to three polynomial problems: 1) A cubic polynomial with coefficients a=1/2, b=0, c=-3/2, d=1. 2) A quartic polynomial with coefficients a=-1/8, b=0, c=1, d=0, e=1. 3) A sextic polynomial factored as (x+2)^2 multiplied by a quadratic with real zeros of (sqrt(5)+1)/2, (sqrt(5)-1)/2, (-sqrt(5)-1)/2, (-sqrt(5)+1)/2.

Uploaded by

Carol Jacinto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Problem 1
  • Problem 2
  • Problem 3

Polynomial Problems with Solutions

Polynomial problems with detailed solutions.


Problem 1:
The graph of a cubic polynomial
y = a x3 + b x2 + c x + d
is shown below. Find the coefficients a, b, c and d.

.
Solution to Problem 1:

This polynomial has a zero of multiplicity 1 at x = -2 and a


zero of multiplicity 2 at x = 1. Hence the polynomial may be written as
y = a (x + 2)(x - 1) 2

This polynomial has a y intercept (0 , 1). Hence


1 = a (0 + 2)(0 - 1) 2

Solve for a to obtain


a=1/2

The polynomial may now be written as follows


y = (1 / 2) (x + 2)(x - 1) 2

Expand to obtain
y = (1 / 2) x 3 -(3 / 2) x + 1

We now identify the coefficients as follows


a = 1/2 , b = 0, c = -3/2 and d = 1

Problem 2:
The graph of the polynomial
y = a x4 + b x3 + c x2 + d x + e
is shown below. Find the coefficients a, b, c, d and e.

.
Solution to Problem 2:

This polynomial has a zero of multiplicity 2 at x = - 2 and a zero of multiplicity 2 at


x = 2. Hence it may be written as
y = a (x + 2) 2 (x - 2) 2

We now use the y intercept at (0 , -2) to write the equation


-2 = a (0 + 2) 2 (0 - 2) 2

Solve the above for a to obtain


a=-1/8

We now write the polynomial as follows


y = (-1 / 8) (x + 2) 2 (x - 2) 2

Expand

y = (-1 / 8) x 4 + x 2 - 2

We now identify the coefficients


a = -1 / 8, b = 0, c = 1, d = 0, e = 1

Problem 3:
The polynomial
f(x) = x 6 + 4 x 5 + x 4 - 12 x 3 - 11 x 2 + 4 x + 4
has a zero of multiplicity 2 at x = - 2. Find the other real zeros.
Solution to Problem 3:

If f has a zero of multiplicity 2, then it may be written as follows


f(x) = (x + 2) 2 Q(x)

Where Q(x) is a polynomial of degree 4 and may be found by division


Q(x) = f(x) / (x + 2) 2 = x 4 -3 x 2 + 1

Polynomial f may now be written as


f(x) = (x + 2) 2 (x 4 -3 x 2 + 1)

The remaining zeros of polynomial f may be found by solving the equation


x 4 -3 x 2 + 1 = 0

It is an equation of the quadratic type with solutions


( sqrt(5) + 1 ) / 2 , ( sqrt(5) - 1 ) / 2 , ( - sqrt(5) - 1 ) / 2 , ( - sqrt(5) + 1 ) / 2

Polynomial Problems with Solutions Polynomial problems with detailed solutions. Problem 1: The graph of a cubic polynomial
 This polynomial has a y intercept (0 , 1). Hence 1 = a (0 + 2)(0 - 1) 2  Solve for a to obtain a = 1 / 2  The polynomi
. Solution to Problem 2:  This polynomial has a zero of multiplicity 2 at x = - 2 and a zero of multiplicity 2 at x = 2. He
y = (-1 / 8) x 4 + x 2 - 2  We now identify the coefficients a = -1 / 8, b = 0, c = 1, d = 0, e = 1 Problem 3: The polyno

You might also like