RATIONAL ZERO THEOREM,

FACTORING POLYNOMIALS and

GRAPHING POLYNOMIAL
FUNCTIONS
 Zeros of Polynomial Functions
polynomial function P(x)
if P(c) = 0
zero of P(x)
Zeros of P(x) - roots or solutions of the polynomial equation P(x) = 0

Example:
The zeros of
since are 1, 2, and 3.

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 Zeros of Polynomial Functions
Example:
The zeros of
are 1, 2, and 3 since
P(1) = 0, P(2) = 0, and P(3) = 0.
By Factor Theorem, the factors of P(x) are x – 1, x – 2, and x – 3.

product of

Therefore, the zeros of P(x) are factors of the constant term.

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 Rational Zero Theorem

If the polynomial function

has integer coefficients, then every rational zero of P(x) is of the form
(in lowest terms), where p is a factor of the constant coefficient
and q is a factor of the leading coefficient .

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 Rational Zero Theorem
Example 1:
Find all the rational zeros of

Leading coefficient :1 Constant coefficient : -8

Possible rational zeros

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 Rational Zero Theorem
Cont. Example 1:
Find all the rational zeros of
Possible rational zeros:

Therefore, the rational zeros are -2 and 4.

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 Rational Zero Theorem: Exercises

Answer the following.

1. Find all the rational zeros of

2. Find all the rational zeros of

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 Rational Zero Theorem: Exercises

1. Find all the rational zeros of

Possible rational zeros

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 Rational Zero Theorem: Exercises

Cont 1. Find all the rational zeros of

Possible rational zeros:

Therefore, the rational zeros are 2 and -7.

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 Rational Zero Theorem: Exercises

2. Find all the rational zeros of

Possible rational zeros

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 Rational Zero Theorem: Exercises

Cont. 2. Find all the rational zeros of

Therefore, the rational zeros are 2, -2 and -3.

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 Rational Zero Theorem

From the previous item, the process of getting the zeros of a polynomial is
tedious because of many values to be evaluated. If this is the case,
synthetic division can be used for convenience.

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 Rational Zero Theorem
Example 2:
Find all the rational zeros of

:2 : -20

Simplify fractions and

eliminate duplicates:

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 Rational Zero Theorem
Cont. Example 2:
Find all the rational zeros of
Evaluating each possible rational zeros to P(x) is tedious.
This time, synthetic division will be used.
Use -5

Remainder
Therefore, -5 is a zero of P(x)
so (x + 5) is a factor of P(x).
Apply factoring

Zeros of P(x):

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