Precalculus Examples

$f (x) = 2 x^{5} + 4 x^{3} - 7 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 6 x + 12$

Step 1

Subtract $7 x^{3}$ from $4 x^{3}$ .

$2 x^{5} - 3 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 6 x + 12$

Step 2

If a polynomial function has integer coefficients, then every rational zero will have the form $\frac{p}{q}$ where $p$ is a factor of the constant and $q$ is a factor of the leading coefficient.

$p = \pm 1, \pm 2, \pm 3, \pm 4, \pm 6, \pm 12$

$q = \pm 1, \pm 2$

Step 3

Find every combination of $\pm \frac{p}{q}$ . These are the possible roots of the polynomial function.

$\pm 1, \pm \frac{1}{2}, \pm 2, \pm 3, \pm \frac{3}{2}, \pm 4, \pm 6, \pm 12$