document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=165212>Question 165212</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please assist me with the following problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Using the intermediate value theorem, determine, if possible, whether the function f has a real zero between a and b\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(x)=3x^2-2x-11; a=2, b=3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #121772 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=121772\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let's evaluate the left endpoint a=2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%28x%29=3x%5E2-2x-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%28x%29=3x%5E2-2x-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%282%29=3%282%29%5E2-2%282%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%282%29=3%282%29%5E2-2%282%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%282%29=3%284%29-2%282%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%282%29=3%284%29-2%282%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%282%29=12-2%282%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%282%29=12-2%282%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%282%29=12-4-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%282%29=12-4-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%282%29=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%282%29=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's evaluate the right endpoint b=3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%28x%29=3x%5E2-2x-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%28x%29=3x%5E2-2x-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%283%29=3%283%29%5E2-2%283%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%283%29=3%283%29%5E2-2%283%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%283%29=3%289%29-2%283%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%283%29=3%289%29-2%283%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%283%29=27-2%283%29-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%283%29=27-2%283%29-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=27 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"27\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%283%29=27-6-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%283%29=27-6-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%283%29=10 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%283%29=10\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So as x changes from 2 to 3, f(x) (ie y) changes from -3 to 10 which means that the graph MUST have crossed over the x-axis somewhere in between x=2 and x=3. So this shows that there is a zero between a and b </SPAN>\n" );
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