College

Finding Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function

In exercises 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48:

a. Find all real zeros of the polynomial function.
b. Determine whether the multiplicity of each zero is even or odd.
c. Determine the maximum possible number of turning points of the graph of the function.
d. Use a graphing utility to graph the function and verify your answers.

40. [tex] f(t) = t^2 (3t^2 - 10t + 7) [/tex]

46. [tex] f(t) = 2t^4 - 2t^2 - 40 [/tex]

Answer :

Alright, let's work through the problems step by step:

### Problem 40: [tex]\( f(t) = t^2 (3t^2 - 10t + 7) \)[/tex]

#### a. Finding all real zeros of the polynomial function
1. Factor the polynomial completely:
[tex]\[
f(t) = t^2 (3t^2 - 10t + 7)
\][/tex]
We can set each factor to zero to find the zeros:
[tex]\[
t^2 = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad t = 0
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
3t^2 - 10t + 7 = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad t = \frac{10 \pm \sqrt{100 - 84}}{6} = \frac{10 \pm \sqrt{16}}{6} = \frac{10 \pm 4}{6}
\][/tex]
This gives us:
[tex]\[
t = \frac{14}{6} = \frac{7}{3} \quad \text{and} \quad t = \frac{6}{6} = 1
\][/tex]

So the zeros are [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex], [tex]\( t = \frac{7}{3} \)[/tex], and [tex]\( t = 1 \)[/tex].

#### b. Determine the multiplicity of each zero
- Multiplicity of [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex]:
- The factor [tex]\( t \)[/tex] appears squared, so the multiplicity is 2 (even).

- Multiplicity of [tex]\( t = \frac{7}{3} \)[/tex]:
- The factor [tex]\( (3t - 7) \)[/tex] appears once in [tex]\( 3t^2 - 10t + 7 \)[/tex], so the multiplicity is 1 (odd).

- Multiplicity of [tex]\( t = 1 \)[/tex]:
- The factor [tex]\( (t - 1) \)[/tex] appears once in [tex]\( 3t^2 - 10t + 7 \)[/tex], so the multiplicity is 1 (odd).

#### c. Determine the maximum possible number of turning points
- The degree of the polynomial [tex]\( f(t) = t^2 (3t^2 - 10t + 7) \)[/tex] is 4.
- The maximum number of turning points for a polynomial of degree [tex]\( n \)[/tex] is [tex]\( n - 1 \)[/tex].
[tex]\[
\text{Maximum turning points} = 4 - 1 = 3
\][/tex]

---

### Problem 46: [tex]\( f(t) = 2t^4 - 2t^2 - 40 \)[/tex]

#### a. Finding all real zeros of the polynomial function
1. Set the polynomial equal to zero:
[tex]\[
2t^4 - 2t^2 - 40 = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad t^4 - t^2 - 20 = 0
\][/tex]
Let [tex]\( u = t^2 \)[/tex], then the equation becomes:
[tex]\[
u^2 - u - 20 = 0
\][/tex]
Solving the quadratic equation:
[tex]\[
u = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 + 80}}{2} = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{81}}{2} = \frac{1 \pm 9}{2}
\][/tex]
This gives us:
[tex]\[
u = 5 \quad \text{and} \quad u = -4
\][/tex]
Since [tex]\( u = t^2 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
t^2 = 5 \quad \Rightarrow \quad t = \pm \sqrt{5}
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
t^2 = -4 \quad \Rightarrow \quad \text{no real solution}
\][/tex]

So the real zeros are [tex]\( t = \sqrt{5} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( t = -\sqrt{5} \)[/tex].

#### b. Determine the multiplicity of each zero
- Multiplicity of [tex]\( t = \sqrt{5} \)[/tex]:
- The factor [tex]\( (t - \sqrt{5}) \)[/tex] appears once, so the multiplicity is 1 (odd).

- Multiplicity of [tex]\( t = -\sqrt{5} \)[/tex]:
- The factor [tex]\( (t + \sqrt{5}) \)[/tex] appears once, so the multiplicity is 1 (odd).

#### c. Determine the maximum possible number of turning points
- The degree of the polynomial [tex]\( f(t) = 2t^4 - 2t^2 - 40 \)[/tex] is 4.
- The maximum number of turning points for a polynomial of degree [tex]\( n \)[/tex] is [tex]\( n - 1 \)[/tex].
[tex]\[
\text{Maximum turning points} = 4 - 1 = 3
\][/tex]

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