Use the Rational Zeros Theorem to find the possible zeros of the following polynomial function: f(x)=33x^3-245x^2+407x-35?

Jax Shea

Jax Shea

Answered question

2023-03-22

Use the Rational Zeros Theorem to find the possible zeros of the following polynomial function: #f(x)=33x^3-245x^2+407x-35#?

Answer & Explanation

Padria4mia

Padria4mia

Beginner2023-03-23Added 6 answers

We have:
f ( x ) = 33 x 3 - 245 x 2 + 407 x - 35
By the rational zeros theorem, any rational zeros of f(x) are expressible in the form p q for integers p, q with p a divisor of the constant term -35 and q a divisor of the coefficient 33 of the leading term.
Divisors of -35 include:
± 1 , ± 5 , ± 7 , ± 35
The divisors of 33 are:
± 1 , ± 3 , ± 11 , ± 33
These are some examples of rational zeros:
± 1 , ± 5 , ± 7 , ± 35
± 1 3 , ± 5 3 , ± 7 3 , ± 35 3
± 1 11 , ± 5 11 , ± 7 11 , ± 35 11
± 1 33 , ± 5 33 , ± 7 33 , ± 35 33
or in increasing order of size:
± 1 33 , ± 1 11 , ± 5 33 , ± 7 33 , ± 5 11 , ± 7 11 , ± 1 3 , ± 1 , ± 35 33 , ± 5 3 , ± 7 3 , ± 35 11 , ± 5 , ± 7 , ± 35 3 , ± 35
Note that these are only the rational possibilities. The rational zeros theorem does not tell us about possible irrational or complex zeros.Using Descartes' Rule of Signs, we can determine that this cubic has no negative zeros and 1 or 3 positive real zeros.
So the only possible rational zeros are:
1 33 , 1 11 , 5 33 , 7 33 , 5 11 , 7 11 , 1 3 , 1 , 35 33 , 5 3 , 7 3 , 35 11 , 5 , 7 , 35 3 , 35
Trying each in turn, we find:
f ( 1 11 ) = 33 ( 1 11 ) 3 - 245 ( 1 11 ) 2 + 407 ( 1 11 ) - 35
f ( 1 11 ) = 3 - 245 + 4477 - 4235 121
f ( 1 11 ) = 0
So x = 1 11 is a zero and 11 x - 1 a factor:
33 x 3 - 245 x 2 + 407 x - 35 = ( 11 x - 1 ) ( 3 x 2 - 22 x + 35 )
To factor the remaining quadratic we can use an AC method:
Find a pair of factors of A C = 3 35 = 105 with sum B = 22
The pair 15, 7 works.
Use this pair to split the middle term then factor by grouping:
3 x 2 - 22 x + 35 = ( 3 x 2 - 15 x ) - ( 7 x - 35 )
3 x 2 - 22 x + 35 = 3 x ( x - 5 ) - 7 ( x - 5 )
3 x 2 - 22 x + 35 = ( 3 x - 7 ) ( x - 5 )
So the other two zeros are:
x = 7 3 and x = 5

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