You learned that a polynomial function of degree n can
have at most n real zeros. (Lesson 2-1)
• Find real zeros of polynomial functions.
• Rational Zero Theorem
• Descartes’ Rule of Sign
• Rational Zero Theorem
• Descartes’ Rule of
Signs
Leading Coefficient Equal to 1
A. List all possible rational zeros of
f (x) = x3 – 3x2 – 2x + 4. Then determine which, if
any, are zeros.
Leading Coefficient Equal to 1
Step 2 Use direct substitution to test each possible
zero.
f(1) = (1)3 – 3(1)2 – 2(1) + 4 or 0
f(–1) = (–1)3 – 3(–1)2 – 2(–1) + 4 or 2
f(2) = (2)3 – 3(2)2 – 2(2) + 4 or –4
f(–2) = (–2)3 – 3(–2)2 – 2(–2) + 4 or –12
f(4) = (4)3 – 3(4)2 – 2(4) + 4 or 12
f(–4) = (–4)3 – 3(–4)2 – 2(–4) + 4 or –100
The only rational zero is 1.
Answer: ±1, ± 2, ± 4; 1
Leading Coefficient Equal to 1
B. List all possible rational zeros of f (x) = x 3 – 2x – 1.
Then determine which, if any, are zeros.
Step 1 Possible rational zeros of f are 1 and –1.
Step 2 Test 1 and –1 using synthetic substitution.
1 1 0 –2 –1
1 1 –1
1 1 –1 –2
–1 1 0 –2 –1
–1 1 1
1 –1 –1 0
Leading Coefficient not Equal to 1
List all possible rational zeros of
f (x) = 2x 3 – 5x 2 – 28x + 15. Then determine which,
if any, are zeros.
Step 1 The leading coefficient is 2 and the constant
term is 15. Possible rational zeros:
Leading Coefficient not Equal to 1
Step 2 By synthetic substitution, you can determine
that x = –3 is a rational zero.
f (-3) = 2(-3) 3 – 5(-3) 2 – 28(-3) + 15 = 0
f (5) = 2(5) 3 – 5(5) 2 – 28(5) + 15 = 0
f (1/2) = 2(1/2) 3 – 5(1/2) 2 – 28(1/2) + 15 =0
By the division algorithm, f (x) = (x + 3)(x – 5)(2x – 1)
so the rational zeros are x = –3, x = 5, and .
Use Descartes’ Rule of Signs
Describe the possible real zeros of
f (x) = x 4 – 3x 3 – 5x 2 + 2x + 7.
Examine the variations of sign for f (x) and for f(–x).
f (x) = x4 – 3x3 – 5x2 + 2x + 7 Answer: 2 or 0
positive
real
+ to – – to +
zeros,
f(–x) = (–x)4 – 3(–x)3 – 5(–x)2 + 2(–x) + 7
= x 4 + 3x 3 – 5x 2 – 2x + 7 2 or 0
negative
real zeros
+ to – – to +
Describe the possible real zeros of
g (x) = –x 3 + 8x 2 – 7x + 9.
A. 3 or 1 positive real zeros, 1 negative real zero
B. 3 or 1 positive real zeros, 0 negative real zeros
C. 2 or 0 positive real zeros, 0 negative real zeros
D. 2 or 0 positive real zeros, 1 negative real zero
Solve a Polynomial Equation
WATER LEVEL The water level in a bucket sitting
on a patio can be modeled by f (x) = x 3 + 4x 2 – 2x + 7,
where f (x) is the height of the water in millimeters
and x is the time in days. On what day(s) will the
water reach a height of 10 millimeters?
Solve f (x) = 10.
x3 + 4x2 – 2x + 7= 10
Substitute x3 + 4x2 – 2x + 7 for f (x).
x3 + 4x2 – 2x – 3= 0
Step 1 Possible rational zeros: factors
Subtract 10 fromofeach
–3 =side.
±1, ±3.
Step 2 f (1) = (1) 3 + 4(1) 2 – 2(1) + 7 = 0
Answer: day 1
PHYSICS The path of a ball is given by the
function f (x) = –4.9x 2 + 21.5 x + 40, where x is the
time in seconds and f (x) is the height above the
ground in meters. After how many seconds will the
ball reach a height of 25 meters?
A. 4 seconds, 10 seconds
B. 4 seconds
C. 5 seconds, seconds
D. 5 seconds
