Question

Determine the number of x-intercepts that appear on a graph of each function.f (x) = (x - 6)2(x + 2)2

Answer 1

f (x) = (x + 1)(x - 3)(x - 4)

= 3

f (x) = (x - 6)2(x + 2)2

= 2

f (x) = (x + 5)3(x - 9)(x + 1)

= 3

f (x) = (x + 2)(x - 1)[x - (4 + 3i )][x - (4 - 3i)]

= 2

hope this helps!

Answer 2

Short answer There are 2 places where the graph touches the x axis just as you said.
I take this to mean f(x) = (x - 6)^2*(x + 2)^2


There are two places where the graph touches the x axis but that is not an intercept.
When a graph just touches the x axis, that counts as a root. As the graph shows, these 2 places are
x = 6 and
x = - 2 is where they touch.

If you have a graphing calculator, you can see what this looks like for yourself. The window settings are
x min = - 3
x max = 7
y min = 0
y max = 250.

There is a local maximum between x = -2 and x = 6.
So the answer, once again is at x = -2 and x = 6 and that makes 2 roots for the equation.