How many x-intercepts would the function shown below have?

f, of, x, equals, 2, left parenthesis, x, minus, 6, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, minus, 6, right parenthesis
f(x)=2(x−6)(x−6)

1 answer

To find the x-intercepts of the function \( f(x) = 2(x - 6)(x - 6) \), we set the function equal to zero:

\[ f(x) = 0 \]

This means we need to solve:

\[ 2(x - 6)(x - 6) = 0 \]

Since \( 2 \) is a constant and does not affect the x-intercepts, we can simplify this to:

\[ (x - 6)(x - 6) = 0 \]

This simplifies to:

\[ (x - 6)^2 = 0 \]

The solution to this equation is:

\[ x - 6 = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x = 6 \]

Since this factor is squared, the x-intercept at \( x = 6 \) has a multiplicity of 2. Thus, there is one unique x-intercept at \( x = 6 \).

In conclusion, the function \( f(x) = 2(x - 6)(x - 6) \) has one x-intercept.