Question

How are the factors of a polynomial related to the x-intercepts of a polynomial? How do you find the x-intercepts given the factors?

Answer 1

You have to factor the polynomial. If for instance you get (x-3)(x+2), then your x intercepts are where you take each to equal 0. (x-3)= 0 so x = 3; and (x+2) = 0 so x = -2. The x intercepts are the opposite sign of the values of the constants in each binomial.