Precalculus Examples

$f (x) = - 49 x^{5} - x^{4} + x + 7$

Step 1

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.

$p = \pm 1, \pm 7$

$q = \pm 1, \pm 7, \pm 49$

Step 2

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

$\pm 1, \pm \frac{1}{7}, \pm \frac{1}{49}, \pm 7$