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If a polynomial function f(x) has roots 3 and mc001-1.jpg, what must also be a root of f(x)?

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Final answer:

The Complex Conjugate Root Theorem dictates that if -4 is a root of f(x), then 4 must also be a root. This theorem applies to polynomials with real coefficients, ensuring non-real complex roots appear in conjugate pairs.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a polynomial function f(x) has roots 3 and -4, then by the Complex Conjugate Root Theorem (also known as the Conjugate Pairs Theorem), if the polynomial has real coefficients, which is the usual assumption unless stated otherwise, the complex roots must come in conjugate pairs. Therefore, if -4 is a root, its complex conjugate 4 must also be a root of f(x). This applies to all non-real complex roots of a polynomial with real coefficients.

The Complex Conjugate Root Theorem is essential for understanding the behavior of polynomial functions with complex roots. In general, if a polynomial has a complex root a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit (the square root of -1), its conjugate a - bi is also a root. This is true because polynomial equations with real coefficients have the property that their roots are either real or occur in complex conjugate pairs.

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