SOLUTION: Find all zeros of the polynomial. (Enter your answers as a comma-separated list. Enter all answers including repetitions.) P(x) = x^4 + x^3 + 14x^2 + 16x − 32

Algebra ->  Real-numbers -> SOLUTION: Find all zeros of the polynomial. (Enter your answers as a comma-separated list. Enter all answers including repetitions.) P(x) = x^4 + x^3 + 14x^2 + 16x − 32      Log On


   



Question 1201305: Find all zeros of the polynomial. (Enter your answers as a comma-separated list. Enter all answers including repetitions.)
P(x) = x^4 + x^3 + 14x^2 + 16x − 32

Answer by ikleyn(52893) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Find all zeros of the polynomial.
(Enter your answers as a comma-separated list. Enter all answers including repetitions.)
P(x) = x^4 + x^3 + 14x^2 + 16x − 32.
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Your first move is to find the rational zeroes.


According to the Rational roots theorem, they are among the integer divisors 
of the constant term -32.


So, we first check the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, -1, -2, -4, -8, -16, -32
if they are the roots.


It is quite mechanical job, and doing this way, you find that 1 and -2 are the integer roots.


Hence, the given polybomial is divisible by (x-1)*(x+2) = x^2+x-2.


Performing long division, you find the quotient

    %28x%5E4+%2B+x%5E3+%2B+14x%5E2+%2B+16x+-+32%29%2F%28x%5E2%2Bx-2%29 = x^2 + 16.


This last polynomial (the quotient) just has no zeroes over real numbers.

It has the complex number zeroes +/- 4i.


Thus the real roots of the given polynomial are 1 and -2; the complex roots are 4i and -4i.

Solved.