SOLUTION: Find all zeros, both real and complex, of the polynomial function f(x)= 2x^4-x^3+2x^2+19x-10

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Question 360223: Find all zeros, both real and complex, of the polynomial function
f(x)= 2x^4-x^3+2x^2+19x-10

Answer by jrfrunner(365) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
since the polynomial is of degree 4, there are 4 zeros or roots.
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By descartes sign rule
f(+x) +-++- there are 3 or 1 positive real roots
f(-x) +++-- there is exactly 1 negative real root
since there is one negative real root, lets find it
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looking at the constant 10, its factors are -+1,-+2,-+5,-+10 plus all the ones created by dividing these factors by -+1, -+2 from the leading constant 2
so the total possible reals are -+1/2,-+1,-+2,-+5/2,-+5,-+10
usually the roots will not be in the extreme so lest try -1.
f(-1)=2%28-1%29%5E4-%28-1%29%5E3%2B2%2A%28-1%29%5E2%2B19%28-1%29-10=2%2B1%2B2-19-10=-24 so -1 no a root
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try -2
f(-2)=2%28-2%29%5E4-%28-2%29%5E3%2B2%28-2%29%5E2%2B19%28-2%29-10=32%2B8%2B8-38-10=0 so -2 is a root
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Perform synthetic division to reduce the polynomial
yielding %28x%2B2%29%2A%282x%5E3-5x%5E2%2B12x-5%29
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try another "potential root" from the list, now realizing that there is at least one positive real
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try 1/2
through synthetic division you will find this works.
so now the functions is factored to %28x%2B2%29%2A%28x-%281%2F2%29%29%2A2%28x%5E2-2x%2B5%29
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using the quadratic equation on x%5E2-2x%2B5 we find that 1+2i and 1-2i are roots or zeros
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So the four roots are -2, 1/2, 1+2i, 1-2i