How do you find all the zeros of f(x)= x^3 - 8x^2 +19x - 12f(x)=x38x2+19x12 with its multiplicities?

1 Answer
Aug 11, 2016

f(x)f(x) has zeros 11, 33 and 44 all with multiplicity 11.

Explanation:

f(x) = x^3-8x^2+19x-12f(x)=x38x2+19x12

First note that the sum of the coefficients is zero. That is:

1-8+19-12 = 018+1912=0

Hence f(1) = 0f(1)=0, x=1x=1 is a zero and (x-1)(x1) a factor:

x^3-8x^2+19x-12x38x2+19x12

=(x-1)(x^2-7x+12)=(x1)(x27x+12)

To factor the remaining quadratic, note that 3+4=73+4=7 and 3xx4=123×4=12.

So we find:

x^2-7x+12 = (x-3)(x-4)x27x+12=(x3)(x4)

with associated zeros x=3x=3 and x=4x=4.