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Please help! Algebra 2!

Enter the number of complex zeros for the polynomial function in the box.
f(x)=x^5+4x^3−5x?

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

2 complex roots

Explanation:

The function f(x)=x^5+4x^3−5x can be factored as follows:

f(x)=x(x^4+4x^2−5). One root, a real root, is zero.

That leaves g(x) = x^4+4x^2−5. Substitute p = x^2, obtaining p^2 + 4p - 5 = 0. This factors as follows: (p+5)(p-1) = 0. Thus, p = -5 and p = 1.

Recalling that p = x^2, we have -5 = x^2 and +1 = x^2. The latter yields x = 1 and x = -1. The former yields +i√5 and =i√5.

Thus, the given poly has 3 real zeros: -1, 1 and 0. Due to the imaginary roots shown above, this means that this poly has 2 complex roots.

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