What are all the possible rational zeros for #f(x)=3x^3-7x^2+29x-9# and how do you find all zeros?

1 Answer
Dec 31, 2016

The "possible" rational zeros are:

#+-1/3, +-1, +-3, +-9#

The actual zeros are:

#1/3# and #1+-2sqrt(2)i#

Explanation:

#f(x) = 3x^3-7x^2+29x-9#

By the rational roots theorem, any rational zeros of #f(x)# are expressible in the form #p/q# for integers #p, q# with #p# a divisor fo the constant term #-9# and #q# a divisor of the coefficient #3# of the leading term.

That means that the only possible rational zeros are:

#+-1/3, +-1, +-3, +-9#

Note also that the signs of the coefficients of #f(x)# are in the pattern: #+ - + -#. By Descartes's rule of signs, since this has #3# changes of sign, #f(x)# must have #3# or #1# positive real zero. Note that #f(-x) = -3x^3-7x^2-29x-9# has all negative coefficients, so #f(x)# has no negative real zeros.

So the only possible rational real zeros are:

#1/3, 1, 3, 9#

Trying each in turn we immediately find:

#f(1/3) = 3(1/27)-7(1/9)+29(1/3)-9 = (1-7+87-81)/9 = 0#

So #x=1/3# is a zero and #(3x-1)# a factor:

#3x^3-7x^2+29x-9 = (3x-1)(x^2-2x+9)#

We can factor the remaining quadratic by completing the square, but it does require some Complex coefficients:

#x^2-2x+9 = x^2-2x+1+8#

#color(white)(x^2-9x+9) = (x-1)^2-(2sqrt(2)i)^2#

#color(white)(x^2-9x+9) = ((x-1)-2sqrt(2)i)((x-1)+2sqrt(2)i)#

#color(white)(x^2-9x+9) = (x-1-2sqrt(2)i)(x-1+2sqrt(2)i)#

Hence the other two zeros are:

#x = 1+-2sqrt(2)i#