Question 88624:  Solve x^3 - 4x^2 - 2x + 20 = 0 over the set of complex numbers. 
 Answer by Nate(3500)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! x^3 - 4x^2 - 2x + 20 = 0 
Descartes Rule of Signs: 
Pos: 2 . 0 
Neg: 1 . 1 
Img: 0 . 2 
We know that there is a negative root for sure... 
Possible roots: 
a = 1,2,4,5,10,20 
b = 1 
+- a/b 
+-1, +-2, +-4, +-5, +-10, +-20 are the "real" choices 
Synthetic Division (or any division you know at this point): 
..-2..|........1.......-4.......-2.......20 
....................1.......-6......10........0 
(x + 2)(x^2 - 6x + 10) = 0 
x^2 - 6x + 10 = 0 and x + 2 = 0 
x^2 - 6x = -10 
(x - 3)^2 = -1 
x = 3 +- i and x = -2 
  
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