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State the number of complex zeros and the possible regional zeros for the function
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State the number of complex zeros and the possible regional zeros for the function-example-1
User Shrivallabh
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Answer:

D) 2 complex zeros; rational zeros among ±{1, 5, 7, 35}

Explanation:

The signs of the coefficients of the polynomial are (+ + + +). They are all the same; there are 0 sign changes. When odd-degree terms change sign, the signs are (- + - +). There are 3 changes: -→+, +→-, -→+.

Descarte's Rule of Signs tells you the lack of sign changes among the coefficients means there are 0 positive real roots. When the signs of odd-degree terms are changed, there are then 3 sign changes, indicating 1 or 3 negative real roots and 2 or 0 complex roots.

There are possibly 2 complex roots.

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The Rational Root Theorem tells you any possible rational roots will be divisors of the constant term, 35. Those divisors are ±1, ±5, ±7, ±35.

Possible rational roots are ±1, ±5, ±7, ±35.

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Additional comments

A graphing calculator shows the one rational root to be x=-5. The other two real roots are irrational (-3±√2). All are negative, as predicted.

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Complex roots always come in conjugate pairs, so there will always be an even number of complex roots. This means an odd-degree polynomial will always have at least one (1) real root.

We can shorten the list of possible rational roots by remembering that there are 0 positive real roots. Then possible rational roots are -1, -5, -7, -35. In this problem, you're merely supposed to apply the rule, and not refine the result.

Changing the signs of odd-degree terms is equivalent to reflecting the function over the y-axis. That suddenly makes negative real roots into positive real roots, so the sign change rule can be applied as for positive real roots.

State the number of complex zeros and the possible regional zeros for the function-example-1
User AntonDelprado
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3.1k points
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