SOLUTION: For the polynomial below, -1 is a zero. F(x)= x^3+7x^2+24x+18 Express f(x) as a product of linear factors f(x)=

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: For the polynomial below, -1 is a zero. F(x)= x^3+7x^2+24x+18 Express f(x) as a product of linear factors f(x)=      Log On


   



Question 962342: For the polynomial below, -1 is a zero.
F(x)= x^3+7x^2+24x+18
Express f(x) as a product of linear factors
f(x)=

Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

For the polynomial below, -1 is a zero.
F%28x%29=+x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18+
Express f%28x%29 as a product of linear factors
since given the polynomial of degree 3, there will be three zeros and we can write it as:
x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18+=%28x-x%5B1%5D%29%28x-x%5B2%5D%29%28x-x%5B3%5D%29
since given -1 is a zero, we have %28x-x%5B1%5D%29=%28x-%28-1%29%29=%28x%2B1%29 as one linear factor
x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18+=%28x%2B1%29%28x-x%5B2%5D%29%28x-x%5B3%5D%29 ....to find other two linear factors, use long division and divide %28x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18%29 by %28x%2B1%29
%28x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18%29%2F%28x%2B1%29=%28x-x%5B2%5D%29%28x-x%5B3%5D%29
-------(x%5E2%2B6x%2B18
%28x%2B1%29|(x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18)
..........x%5E3%2Bx%5E2.....................subtract
.................6x%5E2%2B24x
.................6x%5E2%2B6x.....................subtract
...........................18x%2B18
...........................18x%2B18.....................subtract
.....................................0
so, we have
x%5E2%2B6x%2B18=%28x-x%5B2%5D%29%28x-x%5B3%5D%29......now factor completely left side
first complete square x%5E2%2B6x%2B18=%28x%2B3%29%5E2%2B9
so, solve for x:
%28x%2B3%29%5E2%2B9=0 if %28x%2B3%29%5E2=-9 => x%2B3=sqrt%28-9%29 => x%2B33i
=>solutions x%5B2%5D=-3%2B3i and x%5B3%5D=-3-3i
then, your polynomial is:
x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18+=%28x%2B1%29%28x-%28-3%2B3i%29%29%28x-%28-3-3i%29%29
x%5E3%2B7x%5E2%2B24x%2B18+=%28x%2B1%29%28x%2B3-3i%29%28x%2B3%2B3i%29
or
f%28x%29+=%28x%2B1%29%28x%2B3-3i%29%28x%2B3%2B3i%29