a. list all the possible rational zeros

b. find the rational zeros
in Algebra 2 Answers by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.

1 Answer

We look at the factors of 6 (constant term) and the factors of 3 (highest power of x).

6 has factors 1, 2, 3, 6 and 3 has factors 1 and 3.

(a) This means that possible zeroes are 1, ⅓, 2, ⅔, 3, 6, ⅙. We can put plus or minus in front of each of these.

(b) Try x=1: 3-8-6+17+6=12, so x-1 is not a factor.

Try x=-1: 3+8-6-17+6=-6, so x+1 is not a factor.

Try x=2: 48-64-24+34+6=0, so x-2 is a factor. We divide by x-2 using synthetic division.

3x³-2x²-10x-3, so now we have rational zeroes ±⅓, ±3. x=±3 doesn’t work, but x=-⅓ does work, so 3x+1 is a factor. Using synthetic division we get x²-x-3 as the remaining factor, which has no rational zeroes.

Therefore p(x)=(x-2)(3x+1)(x²-x-3). We can check this by multiplying the factors.

[We can find the irrational zeroes by completing the square or using the quadratic formula: ½(1±√13).]

by Top Rated User (1.2m points)

Related questions

1 answer
1 answer
0 answers
asked Nov 6, 2011 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 930 views
1 answer
asked Feb 7, 2013 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 859 views
0 answers
asked Oct 15, 2012 in Algebra 1 Answers by anonymous | 802 views
0 answers
asked Nov 7, 2011 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 765 views
Welcome to MathHomeworkAnswers.org, where students, teachers and math enthusiasts can ask and answer any math question. Get help and answers to any math problem including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, fractions, solving expression, simplifying expressions and more. Get answers to math questions. Help is always 100% free!
87,516 questions
100,279 answers
2,420 comments
732,560 users