99.6k views
0 votes
Write the polynomial of least degree with roots -2, 0, 1.

1 Answer

6 votes
So since -2, 0, 1 are the roots:

Therefore x = -2, x = 0 , x = 1

Implies that:

x = 2 x - 2 = 0

x = 0 x = 0

x = 1 x - 1 = 0


Therefore (x - 2)x(x - 1) = 0

(x - 2)(x - 1) = x(x - 1) - 2(x - 1) = x² - x - 2x + 2 = x² - 3x + 2

(x - 2)x(x - 1) = 0

(x - 2)(x - 1)x = 0

(x² - 3x + 2)x = 0

x*x² - x*3x + x*2 = 0

x³ - 3x² + 2x = 0

This is the polynomial with the least degree, because it possible for another polynomial with higher power to still have the same root.

x³ - 3x² + 2x = 0 is the polynomial.

I hope this helps.
User Sanyassh
by
6.9k points