2.

4
Real Zeros of
Polynomial
Functions

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc.

 What you’ll learn about
 Long Division and the Division Algorithm
 Remainder and Factor Theorems
 Synthetic Division
 Rational Zeros Theorem
 Upper and Lower Bounds

… and why
These topics help identify and locate the real zeros of
polynomial functions.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 2

 Division Algorithm for Polynomials
Let f (x) and d(x) be polynomials with the degree of f
greater than or equal to the degree of d, and d(x) ≠0.
Then there are unique polynom ialsq(x) and r(x),
called the quotient and rem ainder, such that
f(x) =d (x)⋅q(x)+ r(x)
where eitherr(x) =0 orthe degree of r islessthan the
degree of d .
The function f(x) in the division algorithm isthe
dividend, and d (x) isthe divisor.
If r(x) =0, we say d (x) dividesevenly into f(x).
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 3
 Example Using Polynomial Long Division

Use long division to find the quotient and remainder

when 2x 4 + x3 −3 isdivided by x2 + x +1.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 4

 Example Using Polynomial Long Division
2 x2 −x −1
x 2 + x +1 2 x4 + x3 + 0 x2 + 0 x −3
2 x 4 + 2 x 3 + 2 x2
3 2
−x −2 x + 0 x −3
−x3 −x2 −x
−x2 + x −3
−x2 −x −1
2x −2

3 2 x −2
2 2
(2x + x −3) ÷ ( x + x +1) =2 x −x −1 + 2
4

x + x +1
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 5
 Remainder Theorem

If polynomial f (x) is divided by x −k,

then the rem ainderisr = f(k).

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 6

 Example Using the Remainder
Theorem
Find the remainder when f (x) =2 x2 −x +12
isdivided by x + 3.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 7

 Example Using the Remainder
Theorem
Find the remainder when f (x) =2 x2 −x +12
isdivided by x + 3.

2
r = f(−3) =2 (−3) −(−3) +12 =33

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 8

 Factor Theorem

A polynomial function f (x) has a factor x −k

if and only if f(k) =0.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 9

 Fundamental Connections for
Polynomial Functions
For a polynomial function f and a real number k
the following statements are equivalent:

1. x = k is a solution (or root) of the equation f(x) = 0

2. k is a zero of the function f.
3. k is an x-intercept of the graph of y = f(x).
4. x – k is a factor of f(x).

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 10

 Example Using Synthetic Division
Divide 3x 3 −2 x2 + x −5 by x −1 using synthetic division.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 11

 Example Using Synthetic Division
Divide 3x 3 −2 x2 + x −5 by x −1 using synthetic division.

1 3 −2 1 −5 1 3 −2 1 −5
3 1 2
3 3 1 2 −3

3x 3 −2 x2 + x −5 2 3
=3x + x + 2 −
( x −1) ( x −1)

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 12

 Rational Zeros Theorem
Suppose f is a polynomial function of degree n ≥1
of the form
n n−1
f(x) =an x + an−1 x + ... + a0 ,
with every coefficient an integer
and a0 ≠0. If x = p / q isa rationalzero of f,
where p and q have no com m on integerfactors
otherthan 1, then
g p isan integerfactorof the constant coefficient a0 ,
g q isan integerfactorof the leading coefficient an .
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 13
 Upper and Lower Bound Tests for
Real Zeros
Let f be a polynomial function of degree n ≥1 with a
positive leading coefficient. Suppose f(x) isdivided
by x −k using synthetic division.
g If k ≥0 and every num berin the last line isnonnegative
(positive orzero), then k isan upper bound forthe
realzerosof f.
g If k ≤0 and the num bersin the last line are alternately
nonnegative and nonpositive, then k isa lower bound
forthe realzerosof f.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 14
 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of
f (x) =2 x5 −x4 −2 x3 −14 x2 −6 x + 36
and identify them asrationalorirrational.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 15

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of
f (x) =2 x5 −x4 −2 x3 −14 x2 −6 x + 36
and identify them asrationalorirrational.

Potential Rational Zeros :

Factors of 36
: ±1, ±2, ±3, ±4, ±6, ±9, ±12, ±18, ±36,
Factors of 2
1 3 9
± ,± ,±
2 2 2

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 16

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function

The graph suggests that only

3 3
x =− , x = , and x =2 be
2 2
considered. Synthetic division
3
showsthat only x =− , and
2
x =2 are zerosof f, and
f( x) =(2 x + 3)( x −2 )( x3 + 2 x −6 ).

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 17

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function

Now let g ( x ) = x3 + 2 x −6.

potentialzeros:
±1, ±2, ±3, ±6
but the graph showsthat
these valuesare not zerosof g.
So f hasno m ore rationalzeros.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 18

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Using grapher methods with either function
( f or g ) showsthat an irrationalzero exists
at x ≈1.456. The upperand lowerbound
testscan be applied to f org to show that
there are no zerosoutside the viewing
windowsshown.
The realzerosof f are the rationalnum bers
3
x =− and x =2, and an irrationalnum ber
2
x ≈1.456.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 19
 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of f (x) =2 x4 −7 x3 −8 x2 +14 x + 8.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 20

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of f (x) =2 x4 −7 x3 −8 x2 +14 x + 8.

Potential Rational Zeros :

Factors of 8 ±1, ±2, ±4, ±8 1
: =±1, ±2, ±4, ±8, ±
Factors of 2 ±1, ±2 2
Com pare the x-interceptsof the
graph and the list of possibilities,
and decide that 4 and −1/2 are
potentialrationalzeros.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 21

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of f (x) =2 x4 −7 x3 −8 x2 +14 x + 8.

4 −7
2 −8 14 8
8 4 −16 −8
2 1 −4 −2 0
Thistellsusthat

2 x4 −7 x3 −8 x2 +14 x + 8 =(x −4)(2 x3 + x2 −4 x −2).

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 22

 Example Finding the Real Zeros of a
Polynomial Function
Find all of the real zeros of f (x) =2 x4 −7 x3 −8 x2 +14 x + 8.

−1 / 2 2
1 −4 −2
−1 0 2
2 0 −4 0
This tells us that
4 3 2⎛ 1⎞ 2
2x − 7x − 8x + 14x + 8 = 2(x − 4) ⎜ x + ⎟ ( x − 2 ) .
⎝ 2⎠
1
The real zeros are 4, − , ± 2.
2
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 23
 Quick Review
Rewrite the expression as a polynomial in standard form.
2x 3 + 3x2 + x
1.
x
2 x5 −8 x3 + x2
2.
2 x2
Factorthe polynom ialinto linearfactors.
3. x3 −16 x
3 2
4. x + x −4 x −4
5. 6 x2 −24

Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 24

 Quick Review Solutions
Rewrite the expression as a polynomial in standard form.
2x 3 + 3x2 + x
1. 2 x2 + 3x +1
x
2 x5 −8 x3 + x2 3 1
2. 2
x −4 x +
2x 2
Factorthe polynom ialinto linearfactors.
3. x3 −16 x x ( x + 4 )( x −4 )
3 2
4. x + x −4 x −4 ( x +1)( x + 2 )( x −2 )
5. 6 x2 −24 6 ( x + 2 )( x −2 )
Copyright © 2011 Pearson, Inc. Slide 2.4 - 25