SOLUTION: Find a polynomial f(x) of degree 4 that has the indicated zeros and satisfies the given condition: -1, 2, 3i; and f(-2)=10 I'm kind of stuck with the 3i in the question. Can som

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Find a polynomial f(x) of degree 4 that has the indicated zeros and satisfies the given condition: -1, 2, 3i; and f(-2)=10 I'm kind of stuck with the 3i in the question. Can som      Log On


   



Question 733800: Find a polynomial f(x) of degree 4 that has the indicated zeros and satisfies the given condition: -1, 2, 3i; and f(-2)=10
I'm kind of stuck with the 3i in the question. Can someone shed some light on how would I get rid of the i in 3i?

Found 2 solutions by 11anthony, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by 11anthony(1) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20064) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
 -1, 2, 3i; and f(-2)=10

Since 3i is a solution, its conjugate -3i is also a solution.
[Note that since 3i is really 0+3i, its conjugate is 0-3i, which
is -3i]

So we start with

 x = -1;   x = 2,   x = 3i,  x = -3i

Get 0 on the right side of each:

  
x+1 = 0;   x-2 = 0  x-3i = 0,  x+3i = 0

Myltiply all the left and right sides together.  The right side
will just be 0:

   (x+1)(x-2)(x-3i)(x+3i) = 0

Multiply both sides by a constant k, and the left
side will be f(x) if we have the right value for k

f(x) = k(x+1)(x-2)(x-3i)(x+3i) 

Multiply the first two and the last two factors  

f(x) = k(x²-2x+1x-2)(x²+3ix-3ix-9i²) 

f(x) = k(x²-x-2)(x²-9i²) 

Now since i² = -1, -9i² = -9(-1) = +9

f(x) = k(x²-x-2)(x²+9) 

Multiply those two parentheses together:

f(x) = k(x4+9x²-x³-2x²-9x-18) 
   
Collect like terms:

f(x) = k(x4-x³+7x²-9x-18)

Now we can find k because we are given f(-2)=10

We substitute x=-2

f(-2) = k((-2)4-(-2)³+7(-2)²-9(-2)-18)

f(-2) = k(16-(-8)+7(4)+18-18)

f(-2) = k(16+8+28)

f(-2) = k(52)

We substitute 10 for f(-2)

  10 = k(52)

10%2F26 = k       

5%2F26 = k

Substitute for k in:

f(x) = k(x4-x³+7x²-9x-18)

f(x) = expr%285%2F26%29(x4-x³+7x²-9x-18)

f(x) = 5%2F26x4 - 5%2F26x³ + 35%2F26x² - 45%2F26x - 45%2F13

Edwin