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If 5 + 6i is a root of the polynomial function f(x), which of the following must also be a root of f(x)?

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Answer:

If 5 + 6i is a root of the polynomial function f(x), then its complex conjugate 5 - 6i must also be a root of f(x). This is because complex roots of polynomial functions always come in conjugate pairs.

To see why this is true, consider a polynomial function with real coefficients. If a complex number z = a + bi is a root of the polynomial, then we have:

f(z) = 0

Substituting z = a + bi into the polynomial function, we get:

f(a + bi) = 0

Now we can take the complex conjugate of both sides:

f(a - bi) = (f(a + bi))^*

Since the coefficients of the polynomial are real, we have:

(f(a + bi))^* = f(a - bi)

Therefore, if a + bi is a root of the polynomial, then so is its conjugate a - bi.

In this case, since 5 + 6i is a root of f(x), we know that 5 - 6i must also be a root of f(x). Therefore, the answer is the complex number 5 - 6i.

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