Chapter 6.7, Problem 28PPS

To determine

State the possible number of real zeros, negative real zeros, and imaginary zeros of each function.

Answer to Problem 28PPS

  $\begin{array}{cccc}\begin{array}{l}\text{Number of Positive}\\ \text{Real Zeros}\end{array}& \begin{array}{l}\text{Number of Negative}\\ \text{Real Zeros}\end{array}& \text{Number of Imaginary Zeros}& \text{Total Number of Zeros}\\ 2& 1& 0& 3\\ 2& 0& 1& 3\\ 0& 1& 2& 3\\ 0& 0& 3& 3\end{array}$

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The given equation is $f\left(x\right)=2x^3-7x^2-2x+12$ .

The given equation has degree 3, therefore, it has 3 zeros. To find the positive real zeros, count the number of changes in sign for the coefficients of $f\left(x\right)$ .

  $f\left(x\right)=2x^3-7x^2-2x+12$ Function $f\left(x\right)$

  $f\left(x\right)=+--+$ Show the sign of each term.

There are 2 sign changes, so there are 2 or 0 positive real zeros.

  $f\left(x\right)=-2x^3-7x^2+2x+12$ Function $f\left(-x\right)$

  $f\left(x\right)=--++$ Show the sign of each term.

There is 1 sign change, so there is 1 negative real zero.

The table of possible combinations of real and imaginary zeros.

  $\begin{array}{cccc}\begin{array}{l}\text{Number of Positive}\\ \text{Real Zeros}\end{array}& \begin{array}{l}\text{Number of Negative}\\ \text{Real Zeros}\end{array}& \text{Number of Imaginary Zeros}& \text{Total Number of Zeros}\\ 2& 1& 0& 3\\ 2& 0& 1& 3\\ 0& 1& 2& 3\\ 0& 0& 3& 3\end{array}$