SOLUTION: Find all the rational zeros of the function f(x)=8x^4-24x^3-424x^2-72x

Algebra.Com
Question 550815: Find all the rational zeros of the function f(x)=8x^4-24x^3-424x^2-72x

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
f(x) = 8x4 - 24x3 - 424x2 - 72x

We set the right side = 0

8x4 - 24x3 - 424x2 - 72x = 0

We can factor out 8x:

8x(x3 - 3x2 - 53x - 9) = 0

So by the zero factor principle:

8x = 0         x3 - 3x2 - 53x - 9 = 0
 x = 0

So we see that one rational solution is 0

Next we try to solve x3 - 3x2 - 53x - 9 = 0

If it has any rational solutions they must be
± some divisor of 9

Possible rational solutions of x3 - 3x2 - 53x - 9 = 0
are ±1, ±3, ±9

It has 1 sign change so we know it has one positive
solution.

Try x = 1

1 |1 -3 -53  -9
  |   1  -2 -55
   1 -2 -55 -64

No, 1 is not a solution, since the remainder is not 0

Try x = 3

3 |1 -3 -53   -9
  |   3   0 -159
   1  0 -53 -168

No, 3 is not a solution, since the remainder is not 0
 
Try x = 9

9 |1 -3 -53 -9
  |   9  54  9
   1  6   1  0

Hurray! 9 is a solution because the remainder is 0.

Now we know that 0 and 3 are rational zeros of f(x).

Now we have factored f(x) as

f(x) = 8x(x - 9)(x2 + 6x + 1)

So all the rational zeros of f(x) are 0 and 9

However there are two irrational solutions obtainable by
setting x2 + 6x + 1 = 0 and using the quadratic formula:

x =  

x =  

x = 

x = 

x = 

x = 

x =  

x =  

x =  

But you weren't asked for those two irrational zeros.

The only rational zeros are 0 and 9.

Edwin



RELATED QUESTIONS

Find all real zeros of the function: h(x)=... (answered by lwsshak3)
find all real zeros(if any) and state the multiplicity of each... (answered by jsmallt9)
Please help w/ the following: Find all the real and complex zeros of the polynomial... (answered by stanbon)
Find all real zeros of the function.... (answered by robertb)
find all of the rational zeros of this function f(x) = x^4 -... (answered by nabla)
Find all the rational zeros of the function f(x)=36x^4+66... (answered by Fombitz,ewatrrr)
List all possible rational zeros of f using the rational zero theorem. Then find all the... (answered by nyc_function)
Find all the rational zeros of the function... (answered by Boreal)
Use the rational zeros thereom to find all the zeros of each polynomial function. Use the (answered by lwsshak3)