SOLUTION: find a polynomial of minimum degree that has the given zeros -3.0,1,2

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Question 237262: find a polynomial of minimum degree that has the given zeros -3.0,1,2
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You wrote this with a decimal point between the -3 and the 0. Did you really mean there are 3 roots or four roots? I'm assuming that you meant the decimal point to be a comma, and the roots are -3,0,1, and 2.

Then you have

x=-3, x=0, x=1, and x=2. Set each of these equal to zero:

The FACTORS will then be
x+3=0, x=0, x-1=0, and x-2=0

Therefore the polynomial will be
x(x+3)(x-1)(x-2)=0

You may or may not want to expand this!!

If you need more help on this topic, especially for more difficult exercises, please see my own website for my "non-traditional" explanation. Do a "Bing" or "Google" search for my last name "Rapalje". Near the top of the search list, look for "Rapalje Homepage." Near the top of my Homepage, look for the link "MATH IN LIVING COLOR." Select "College Algebra" and look in Chapter 3 for "Section 3.02, Polynomial Expressions and Equations". Other sections here may also be helpful.

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole State College of Florida
Altamonte Springs Campus