Which Descartes rule of signs would apply to the following P(x)=x^2+5x+6 First term, x^2 is positive, + Second term +5x is positive, + Third term 6 is positivs + The signs of the terms left to right go +++, So there are no sign changes, so there are no positive zeros (or roots). Substitute (-x) for x and simplify P(-x)=(-x)^2+5(-x)+6 P(-x)=x^2-5x+6 The signs of the terms going left to right is +-+ That's two sign changes, so there are either 2 negative zeros (roots) or 2 less that 2 negative or 0 negative zeros (roots) Conclusion: There are no positive zeros (roots), and either 2 or 0 negative zeros (roots). ------------------------ P(x)=8x^3+2x^2-14x+5 The signs of the terms go ++-+ That's 2 sign changes, so there are either 2 or 0 positive zeros (roots). Substitute -x for x and simplify: P(-x)=8(-x)^3+2(-x)^2-14(-x)+5 P(-x)=-8x^3+2x^2+14x+5 The signs of terms go -+++ That's 1 sign change, so there is exactly 1 negative zero. Conclusion: There is 1 negative and either 2 or 0 positive zeros (roots). ----------------------- P(x)=9x^3-4x^2+10 The signs of the terms go +-+ That's 2 sign changes going left to right. So there are either 2 or 0 positive zeros (roots). Substitute -x for x and simplify: P(-x)=9(-x)^3-4(-x)^2+10 P(-x)=-9x^3-4x^2+10 The signs of the terms go --+ That's 1 sign change going left to right. So there is 1 negative zero (root). Conclusion: There is 1 negative zero (root) and either 2 or 0 positive zeros (roots). Edwin