Polynomials Roots Investigation

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Name______________________________________________

Polynomials Roots Investigation

Task One: Identifying types of roots


Both graphs below are 4th degree polynomials ( y=x 4 … ), therefore both graphs have 4 roots. (Remember that the degree of
the function states how many roots a polynomial will have!)

This graph has 4 real zeros This graph has 2 real zeros and 2 imaginary zeros.

Imaginary roots

Look at the graph of the polynomial and state the number and type of roots. If there are no imaginary
roots, then simply write none.
1) y=x 3 + x 2−x +2
Degree of the function:
______________________________________________

Number of roots
 Number of real roots: _______________________________________

 Number of imaginary roots: ________________________________

2) y=x 2 + 4 x+ 2
Degree of the function: ______________________________________

Number of roots
 Number of real roots: _______________________________________

 Number of imaginary roots: ________________________________


Name______________________________________________

3) y=x 2 + 4
Degree of the function: _____________________________________

Number of roots
 Number of real roots: _______________________________________

 Number of imaginary roots: ________________________________

4) y=x 4+ 3 x 3 + x 2−2
Degree of the function: ________________________________________

Number of roots
 Number
of real
roots:

_______________________________________

 Number of imaginary roots: ________________________________

5) y=x 5 + x 4 −2 x 3 + x 2−3
Degree of the function: _________________________________________

Number of roots
 Number of real roots: _______________________________________
Name______________________________________________
 Number of imaginary roots: ________________________________

Task 2: Finding Zeros using synthetic division and the quadratic formula

3 2
Ex: y=x + x −x +2
 Degree: _________________________________________

o Number of real roots: ____________________

o Number of imaginary roots:________________

 The only way to find imaginary roots is by using the

________________________ ____________________________

 So, we need to factor this cubic down to a quadratic


before we can find the imaginary roots. We can do that
using synthetic division we can factor this down further!
So, here are the steps we need to take.

Step 1: Find one of the x-intercepts of the graph Step 2: Once you get down to a 2nd degree
and use that as your number you divide by in quadratic ( x 2 … ¿ use the quadratic formula to
synthetic division find the imaginary roots.

−b ± √ b2−4 ac
1) y=x 3 + x 2−x +2 x= ,
2a
Name______________________________________________

Now, it’s your turn! Graph your polynomial in Desmos and use these two steps to find all of the roots for
your polynomial. Remember, the degree of the polynomial determines the number of roots!

1) 4 x3 +3 x 2 + x+ 2
Step 1: Synthetic division

Step 2: Quadratic formula

Roots: _______________________________________

2) y=2 x 3−2 x 2+3 x−3


Step 1: Synthetic division

Step 2: Quadratic formula


Name______________________________________________

Roots: _______________________________________

3) y=x 3 + x +10
Step 1: Synthetic division

Step 2: Quadratic formula

Roots: _______________________________________

4) y=x 3−12 x 2 +45 x−70


Step 1: Synthetic division

Step 2: Quadratic formula


Name______________________________________________

Roots: _______________________________________

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