Lesson 4

Zeros of Polynomial
Functions
 Essential Question

How the roots, solutions,

zeros, x-intercepts and
factors of a polynomial
function are related?
 Factoring
Polynomials
Terms are Factors of a Polynomial if, when they are
multiplied, they equal that polynomial:

x + 2 x - 15 = ( x - 3)( x + 5)
2

 Factors : ( x – 3 ) ( x + 5)
of the polynomial x + 2 x - 15
2
 Roots/ Solutions
Polynomial Equation
Rearrange the terms to have zero on one side:
x 2 + 2 x = 15 � x 2 + 2 x - 15 = 0
Factor:
( x + 5)( x - 3) = 0

Set each factor equal to zero and solve:

( x + 5) = 0 and ( x - 3) = 0
x = -5 x =3
The roots/ solutions are   x = ­5 or x = 3
 Zeros of Polynomial
Functions
Using the Roots /
Solution
f(x) = x + 2 x - 15
2

X = 3 and x = -5
Using synthetic division
3 1 2 -15 -5 1 2 -15
3 15 -5 15
1 5 0 1 -3 0
Since x = 3 and x = -5 both yields 0 remainder, they
are called zeros of the function.
 X-intercept
Graph of the function f ( x) = x + 2 x - 15
2

y = x 2 + 2 x - 15
if x = 3
y = (3) 2 + 2(3) - 15 = 0
y=0
-5 3
(3, 0)

( -5, 0 )
X – intercept
( 3, 0 )
 Summary
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 15
2

Factors : ( x – 3 ) and ( x + 5 )

Roots / Solutions : x = 3, and x = -5

Zeros : x = 3 and - 5

X – intercepts : (-5, 0 ) and ( 3, 0 )

 Zeros of Polynomial
Functions
Definition
Zeros are value/s of x that
makes the function equal to zero or
during the synthetic division, the
remainder becomes zero.
 Zeros of Polynomial
Functions
Types of Zeros
1.Real Integral Zeros
ex. x = -1, 0, 3
2. Real Rational Zeros
ex. x = 1, -1/2, -2/3
3.Imaginary Zeros
ex. x = 2+i, 2-i , 3i, -3i
 Graph of Function
with Real Zeros
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

Degree : 3

Maximum no. of
zeros: 3

No. of times it
intersect the x – axis
3
 Graph of Function
with Real Zeros
f ( x) = x - 10 x + 9
4 2

Degree : 4

Maximum no. of
zeros: 4

No. of times it
intersect the x – axis
4
 Graph of Function
with Imaginary Zeros
f ( x) = x + 3x + x + 3
3 2

Degree : 3

Maximum no. of
zeros: 3

No. of times it
intersect the x – axis
1
 Graph of Function
with Imaginary Zeros
f ( x) = x - 3x - 4
4 2

Degree : 4

Maximum no. of
zeros: 4

No. of times it
intersect the x – axis
2
 Fundamental
Theorem of Algebra
Illustration

f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

Degree : 3
No. of maximum zeros : 3
( it could be real or imaginary )
 Descartes’ Rule of
Signs
Descartes’ Rule of Signs was used to
determine the possible signs of the
zeros of the given function.
Rule :

If there are variation/ change in the signs between

each term of the function, there will be a POSITIVE
zeros.

If there are no variation/ change in signs between

each term, it mean a NEGATIVE zeros.
 Descartes’ Rule of
Signs
Example
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

+ + - -
No Change No
change change

- + -
 Example

f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

+ + - -
No Change No
change change

- + -
Possible zeros : 2 negative zeros and
1 positive zeros.
 Descartes’ Rule of
Possible Zeros
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

Degree : 3
Maximum no. of zeros : 3
Descartes’ Rule of Signs : 2 negative, 1 positive

positive negative imaginary Total

1 2 0 3
1 0 2 3
 Descartes’ Rule of
Ex. 2 :
Possible Zeros
f ( x) = x - 6 x + 3 x + 10
3 2

+ - + +
Change Change No

+ + change
-
Degree : 3
Maximum no. of zeros : 3

Descartes’ Rule of signs : 2 positive , 1 negative

 Descartes’ Rule of
Ex. 2 :
Possible Zeros
f ( x) = x - 6 x + 3 x + 10
3 2

+ + -
Degree : 3
Maximum no. of zeros : 3
Descartes’ Rule of signs : 2 positive , 1 negative

positive negative imaginary Total

2 1 0 3
0 1 2 3
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

Step 1 : Information about the

function
a. Degree : 3
b. Leading Coefficient : +1
c. Max no. of zeros : 3
d. No. of Turning Points : 2
e. End Behavior : Rises to the Right
Falls to the Left
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

- + -
Step 2 : Descartes’ Rule of Signs
Positive Negative Imaginary Total

1 2 0 3
1 0 2 3
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2
p
q
Step 3 : Rational Factors
P = -6
q=1

p  1,  2,  3,  6 Factors of 6
=
q 1 Factors of 1
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
f ( x) = x + 2 x - 5 x - 6
3 2

Step 3 : Rational Factors

p  1,  2,  3,  6
=
q 1
p List of
= 1,  2,  3,  6 Possible
q zeros
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Step 4 : Table of Values (using calculator )
x y = f (x) ( x, y )
0 -6 (0, -6 )
1 -8 (1, -8 )
2 0 (2, 0 ) zeros X=2
3 24 ( 3, 24 )
6 252 ( 6 , 252 )
-1 0 ( -1, 0 ) zeros X = -1

-2 4 (-2, 4 )
-3 zeros X = -3
0 (-3, 0 )
-6 -120 (-6, -120 )
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Step 5 : Zeros, Factors, and x - intercept

Zeros : x = 2, -1, -3
Factors : (x -2),(x +1),(x+3)
X - intercept :
(2, 0),(-1 , 0),(-3, 0)
 Finding Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Step 6 : Graph the function
x y = f (x) ( x, y )
0 -6 (0, -6 )
1 -8 (1, -8 )
2 0 (2, 0 )
3 24 ( 3, 24 )
6 252 ( 6 , 252 )
-1 0 ( -1, 0 )
-2 4 (-2, 4 )
-3 0 (-3, 0 )
-6 -120 (-6, -120 )