7.

2B Notes…Writing Polynomials from Roots

Find all the zeros of 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 4
1 2 4
Factors of constant: ±1, ±2, ±4 Possible Zeros: ±1, ±2, ±4, ± , ± , ±
2 2 2
Factors of Lead Coeff: ±1, ±2 8 numbers to try. Look at a graph…..
From the graph I would choose to try x = -1, 2 Use division to verify the zeros
2 −2 −2 −2 −4 2 −4 2 −4
-1
↓ −2 4 −2 4 2 ↓ 4 0 4 2𝑥 2 + 2 = 0
2 −4 2 −4 0 2 0 2 0 2𝑥 2 = −2
𝑥 2 = −1
4th degree gives 4 zeros, 𝒁𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒔: 𝒙 = −𝟏, 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒙 = 𝒊, 𝒙 = −𝒊
√𝑥 2 = ±√−1
THIS IS THE POINT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE WITH THIS EXAMPLE… 𝑥 = ±𝑖
At this point we should start to see that the radical zeros,
including the imaginary ones √−1, always come from + in front of a radical so…
Complex Conjugates Theorem Irrational Conjugates Theorem
If 𝑓 is a polynomial function with real If 𝑓 is a polynomial function with rational
number coefficients, and 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊 is a zero number coefficients, and 𝒂 + √𝒃 is a zero
of 𝒇, then 𝒂 − 𝒃𝒊 is also a zero of 𝒇. of 𝒇, then 𝒂 − √𝒃 is also a zero of 𝒇.
Sometimes you are given the zeros of a polynomial and asked to write a polynomial of least
degree, with integral coefficients, in standard form, that includes all the given zeros.
Together, these two theorems tell you that if you are given a list of zeros that include
𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊 or 𝒂 + √𝒃, you must also include its conjugate.
The conjugate of 𝟕 − √𝟐 is __________ The conjugate of 𝟑 + 𝟐𝒊 is ___________
The conjugate − 𝟑√𝟓 is __________ The conjugate of 𝟏𝟏𝒊 is ___________
Write a polynomial function 𝑓 of least degree that has > Set up each zero with (x – p)
integral coefficients, and zeros of 4, −1 and √5 > Multiply the radical factors
If 𝟎 + √𝟓 is a zero, then another zero is: ________ 𝟐
√𝒃 ∙ √𝒃 = √𝒃 = 𝒃 so
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥− )(𝑥− )(𝑥− )(𝑥− ) (𝒂 − 𝒄√𝒃)(𝒂 + 𝒄√𝒃) = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒄𝟐 𝒃
> Multiply (Distribute) the
remaining factors two at a time,
in any order
> State your final answer
as a polynomial function
in standard form

Multiplying with √
… a different example
(𝒙 − 𝟑√𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟑√𝟐)
𝟐
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑√𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟑√𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟑𝟐 √𝟐
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗(𝟐) =
= 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖
Write a polynomial function 𝑓 of least degree that has > Set up each zero with (x – p)
integral coefficients, and zeros of 7 and 6𝑖
> Multiply the imaginary factors
If 𝟎 + 𝟔𝒊 is a zero, then another zero is: ________ 𝟐
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥− )(𝑥− )(𝑥− ) 𝒊 = −𝟏 so
(𝒂 − 𝒃𝒊)(𝒂 + 𝒃𝒊) = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
> Multiply (Distribute) the
remaining factors two at a time,
in any order
> State your final answer as a
polynomial in standard form
Multiplying with 𝑖… a different example
(𝒙 − 𝟐𝒊)(𝒙 + 𝟐𝒊)
𝒙 + 𝟐𝒊𝒙 − 𝟐𝒊𝒙 − 𝟐𝟐 𝒊𝟐
𝟐

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒(−𝟏)
= 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒

Write a polynomial function 𝑓 of least degree that has If I want only integer coefficients,
integral coefficients and zeros of −3 and ¾ and -½ 𝑃
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − ) ∙ (𝑥 − ) ∙ (𝑥− ) (𝑥 – )
𝑄
Must become
𝑃
𝑄 (𝑥 – )  (𝑄𝑥 – 𝑃)
𝑄
Use (x – given zero),
then multiply by the denominator
(Distribute into the parentheses)
to change everything to integers!

3
∙ = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟?
4

1
∙ = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟?
2