Scribd
Upload
161 views

4.6 - Notes (Fundamental Theorem of Algebra)

This document contains a lesson on finding the zeros of polynomial functions. It introduces the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Descartes' Rule of Signs. Students are given examples of writing polynomial functions with given zeros, using the Fundamental Theorem to find the number of possible zeros, and applying Descartes' Rule to determine the possible numbers of imaginary, positive, and negative zeros. Practice problems have students finding all zeros of polynomial functions.

Uploaded by

PV39349234
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
161 views

4.6 - Notes (Fundamental Theorem of Algebra)

This document contains a lesson on finding the zeros of polynomial functions. It introduces the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Descartes' Rule of Signs. Students are given examples of writing polynomial functions with given zeros, using the Fundamental Theorem to find the number of possible zeros, and applying Descartes' Rule to determine the possible numbers of imaginary, positive, and negative zeros. Practice problems have students finding all zeros of polynomial functions.

Uploaded by

PV39349234
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

NAME:____________________________________________________  PERIOD: _______  DATE: ___________ 

ALGEBRA 2/TRIG              BINDER SECTION: LESSONS 
 
Lesson 4.6
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to state the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and use this to help them find the zeros 
of polynomial functions.  They will use Descartes’s Rule of Signs to find out the number possible imaginary zeros, 
positive real zeros, and negative real zeros.  Students will also be able to find conjugate pairs of complex and irrational 
zeros of polynomial functions. 
 
Special Theorem 

 
 
Ex. 1. Write a polynomial function f of least degree that has rational coefficients, a leading coefficient of 1, and the zeros 
2 and 3 𝑖. 

PRACTICE 1: 
Write a polynomial function f of least degree that has rational coefficients, a leading coefficient of 1, and the zeros  1 
and 4i. 

 
 
   
Function  Solutions  # of Solutions 
 
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 7𝑥 18  √2, √2, 3𝑖, 3𝑖   
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 2  2, 1 (multi. of 2)   
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 5𝑥 10𝑥 4𝑥 8  2, 𝑖, 𝑖, 2𝑖, 2𝑖   
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 5𝑥 4  √2, √2, 𝑖√2, 𝑖√2, 1, 1, 𝑖, 𝑖 
 
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra states that … 
 
 
 
 
 
Ex 2/Try it. Find the roots of: 
𝑓 𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Descartes’s Rule of Signs
French mathematician Rene Descartes (1596‐1650) found the following relationship between the coefficients of a 
polynomial function and the number of positive and negative zeros of the function. 

 
 
Ex 3. State the possible number of imaginary zeros and the possible number of positive and negative zeros for the 
function.  
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 3𝑥 10𝑥 6𝑥 8𝑥 8 
 
 
 
   
Ex 4. State the possible number of imaginary zeros and the possible number of positive and negative zeros for the 
function. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Practice #2: State the possible number of imaginary zeros and the possible number of positive and negative zeros for 
each function.   
A)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Good test question: Maxine was asked to state the possible number of imaginary, positive, and negative zeros for the 
function.  Her work is below.  She thinks she did it wrong based on her understanding of the Fundamental Theorem of 
Algebra. What do YOU think? 
 
If you agree that she did it incorrectly, where did she go wrong?  If you disagree and believe she did it correctly, what’s a 
possible explanation to why the numbers don’t follow the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra? 
 

 
 
 
 
Ex. 5. Find the roots. 
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 5𝑥 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ex. 6. FIND ALL ZEROS of: 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 12𝑥 8 

Constant: ________  Factors: ___________________________


Leading coefficient: ________  Factors: ________________

POSSIBLE solutions (put factors of constant over factors of leading coefficients):


We need to check these
solutions to see if they work!

(Example 2 continues on the next page!!) 
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 12𝑥 8 
Test ___________ Test __________

(_______________) (_________________)
 

 
 
 
Test ___________

(_______________)
 

 
Practice #3A. Find all zeros of the polynomial function. 

𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 7𝑥 16𝑥 12 
 

Practice #3B. Find all zeros of the polynomial function. 

𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 5𝑥 𝑥 6𝑥 4 
 

You might also like