Question

list all the possible rational zeros of f using the rational zero theorem. then find all the zeros of the function.

1. f(x)=x^2-6x+5
2. f(x)=x^3+x^2-10x+8

Answer 1

This is just asking you to factor. I'll do the first one for you (I forget how to do problems like the second.) x^2-6x+5..you have to get the two numbers to multiply to your last number (5) and add/subtract up to your middle number (-6), so the numbers you want are -5 and -1, written like this (x-5)(x-1), where x=5 and 1. You can then plug either of those numbers back into the equation and you see that both work.