Name Class Date

7.1 Finding Rational Solutions

of Polynomial Equations
Essential Question: How do you find the rational roots of a polynomial equation?
Resource
Locker

Relating Zeros and Coefficients of

Explore  
Polynomial Functions
The zeros of a polynomial function and the coefficients of the function are related. Consider the
polynomial function ƒ​(x)​ = (​ x + 2)​​(x -1)​​(x + 3)​.

A Identify the zeros of the polynomial function.                        

B Multiply the factors to write the function in standard form.

C How are the zeros of ƒ​(x)​related to the standard form of the function?             

D Now consider the polynomial function g​(x)​= (​ 2x + 3)​​(4x - 5)​​(6x - 1)​. Identify the zeros
of this function.
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E Multiply the factors to write the function in standard form.

F How are the zeros of g​(x)​related to the standard form of the function?

Module 7 341 Lesson 1

 Reflect

1. In general, how are the zeros of a polynomial function related to the function written in standard form?

2. Discussion Does the relationship from the first Reflect question hold if the zeros are all integers? Explain.

3. ( )( )(
If you use the zeros, you can write the factored form of g(x) as g(x) = x + __32 x - __54 x - __16 , rather than)
as g(x) = (2x + 3)(4x - 5)(6x - 1). What is the relationship of the factors between the two forms?
Give this relationship in a general form.

Explain 1 Finding Zeros Using the Rational Zero Theorem

If a polynomial function p(x) is equal to (a 1x + b 1)(a 2x + b 2)(a 3x + b 3), where a 1, a 2 , a 3, b 1 , b 2 , and b 3
are integers, the leading coefficient of p(x) will be the product a 1a 2 a 3 and the constant term will be
b b b
the product b 1b 2b 3. The zeros of p(x) will be the rational numbers -__ __2 __3
a1 , - a2 , - a3 .
1

Comparing the zeros of p(x) to its coefficient and constant term shows that the numerators of the
polynomial’s zeros are factors of the constant term and the denominators of the zeros are factors of
the leading coefficient. This result can be generalized as the Rational Zero Theorem.

Rational Zero Theorem

If p(x) is a polynomial function with integer coefficients, and if _m is a zero of p(x) p __

n (
(mn ) = 0 , )
then m is a factor of the constant term of p(x) and n is a factor of the leading coefficient of p(x).

Example 1 Find the rational zeros of the polynomial function; then write the function

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as a product of factors. Make sure to test the possible zeros to find the actual
zeros of the function.

A ƒ(x) = x 3 + 2x 2 - 19x - 20
a. Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find all possible rational zeros.
Factors of -20: ±1, ±2, ±4, ±5, ±10, ±20

b. Test the possible zeros. Use a synthetic division

table to organize the work. In this table, the first
_
m
1 2 -19 -20
n
row (shaded) represents the coefficients of the
1 1 3 -16 -36
polynomial, the first column represents the
divisors, and the last column represents 2 1 4 -11 -42
the remainders.
4 1 6 5 0
5 1 7 16 60

Module 7 342 Lesson 1

 c. Factor the polynomial. The synthetic division by 4 results in a remainder of 0, so 4
is a zero and the polynomial in factored form is given as follows:
(x - 4)(​​ ​x 2​ ​ + 6x + 5)​ = 0
​

  ​(x - 4)​​(x + 5)​​(x + 1)​ = 0

  x = 4, x = -5, or x = -1

The zeros are x = 4, x = -5, and x = -1.

B ƒ​(x)​ = ​x 4​ ​ - 4​x 3​ ​ - 7​x 2​ ​ + 22x + 24

a. Use the Rational Zero Theorem to find all possible rational zeros.

Factors of 24: ±   

, ±   ,±   ,±   ,±   ,±   
, ±   
, ±   

b. Test the possible zeros. Use a synthetic division table.

_ m
​  n ​ 1 -4 -7 22 24

c. Factor the polynomial. The synthetic division by     results in a remainder of 0,

so     is a zero and the polynomial in factored form is given as follows:

(x -    )(​ ​x 3​ ​ - ​x 2​ ​ -     x -    )​= 0

​
d. Use the Rational Zero Theorem again to find all possible rational zeros of

g​(x)​= ​x 3​ ​ - ​x 2​ ​ -     x -    .

Factors of -8: ±   ,±   ,±   ,±   

e. Test the possible zeros. Use a synthetic division table.

_ m
-1 -10 -8
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​  n ​ 1

2
4

f. Factor the polynomial. The synthetic division by     results in a remainder of 0,

so     is a zero and the polynomial in factored form is:

(x -    )​(x -    )​(    ​x 2​ ​ +     x +    )​= 0

​

(x -    )​(x -    )​(x +    )​(x +    )​= 0

​

x =    , x =    , x =    , or x =    

The zeros are                .

Module 7 343 Lesson 1

 Reflect

4. How is using synthetic division on a 4​  ​th​degree polynomial to find its zeros different than using synthetic
division on a 3​  ​rd​degree polynomial to find its zeros?

5. Suppose you are trying to find the zeros the function ƒ​(x)​= ​x 2​ ​ + 1. Would it be possible to use synthetic
division on this polynomial? Why or why not?

6. Using synthetic division, you find that __

​ 12 ​is a zero of ƒ​(x)​= 2​x 3​ ​ + ​x 2​ ​ - 13x + 6. The quotient
from the synthetic division array for ƒ​ __ ()
​  12 ​ ​is 2​x ​2​ + 2x - 12. Show how to write the factored form of
ƒ​(x)​= 2​x3​ ​ + ​x 2​ ​ - 13x + 6 using integer coefficients.

Your Turn

7. Find the zeros of ƒ​(x)​= ​x 3​ ​ + 3​x 2​ ​ - 13x- 15.

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_ m
​  n ​ 1 -3 -13 -15

Module 7 344 Lesson 1

 Explain 2 Solving a Real-World Problem Using
the Rational Root Theorem
Since a zero of a function ƒ(x) is a value of x for which ƒ(x) = 0, finding the zeros of a
polynomial function p(x) is the same thing as find the solutions of the polynomial equation
p(x) = 0. Because a solution of a polynomial equation is known as a root, the Rational Zero
Theorem can be also expressed as the Rational Root Theorem.

Rational Root Theorem

If the polynomial p(x) has integer coefficients, then every rational root of
m
the polynomial equation p(x) = 0 can be written in the form __ n , where m is
a factor of the constant term of p(x) and n is a factor of the leading coefficient
of p(x).

Engineering A pen company is designing a gift container for their new

premium pen. The marketing department has designed a pyramidal box with a
rectangular base. The base width is 1 inch shorter than its base length and the
height is 3 inches taller than 3 times the base length. The volume of the box in
tory g
must be 6 cubic inches. What are the dimensions of the box? Graph the volume His arkin
m
function and the line y = 6 on a graphing calculator to check your solution. the

A. Analyze Information
The important information is that the base width must be inch
shorter than
the base length, the height must be inches taller than 3 times the
base length,
and the box must have a volume of cubic inches.

B. Formulate a Plan
Write an equation to model the volume of the box.
Let x represent the base length in inches. The base width is and the
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height is , or .
1 ℓw h = V
_
3
_1 ( )(x - )(3)(x + )=
3
x3 - x- =0

Module 7 345 Lesson 1

 C. Solve
Use the Rational Root Theorem to find all possible rational roots.
Factors of -6: ± ,± ,± ,±
Test the possible roots. Use a synthetic division table.
_
m
1 0 -1 -6
n
1

Factor the polynomial. The synthetic division by results in a remainder of 0,

so is a root and the polynomial in factored form is as follows:
( x- )( x2 + x+ )=0
The quadratic polynomial produces only roots, so the only possible

answer for the base length is inches. The base width is inch and the

height is inches.

D. Justify and Evaluate

The x-coordinates of the points where the graphs of two functions, f and g, intersect
is the solution of the equation f(x) = g(x). Using a graphing calculator to graph the
volume function and y = 6 results in the graphs intersecting at the point .
Since the x-coordinate is , the answer is correct.

Your Turn

8. Engineering A box company is designing a new rectangular gift container. The marketing department

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has designed a box with a width 2 inches shorter than its length and a height 3 inches taller than its length.
The volume of the box must be 56 cubic inches. What are the dimensions of the box?

Module 7 346 Lesson 1

 _m
​  n ​ 1 1 -6 -56

Elaborate
9. For a polynomial function with integer coefficients, how are the function’s coefficients and rational zeros
related?

10. Describe the process for finding the rational zeros of a polynomial function with integer coefficients.

11. How is the Rational Root Theorem useful when solving a real-world problem about the volume of an
object when the volume function is a polynomial and a specific value of the function is given?
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12. Essential Question Check-In What does the Rational Root Theorem find?

Module 7 347 Lesson 1

 Evaluate: Homework and Practice
• Online Homework
Find the rational zeros of each polynomial function. Then write each function in • Hints and Help
factored form. • Extra Practice

1. ƒ(x) = x 3 − x 2− 10x − 8 2. ƒ(x) = x 3 + 2x 2- 23x - 60

3. j(x) = 2x 3 - x 2 - 13x - 6 4. g(x) = x 3 - 9x 2 + 23x − 15

h(x) = x 3 - 5x 2 + 2x + 8 h(x) = 6x 3 - 7x - 9x − 2
2
5. 6.

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7. s(x) = x 3 - x 2 − x + 1 8. t(x) = x 3 + x 2 − 8x − 12

Module 7 348 Lesson 1

 9. k​(x)​= ​x 4​ ​ + 5​x 3​ ​ - ​x 2​ ​ − 17x + 12 10. g​(x)​= ​x 4​ ​ - 6​x 3​ ​ + 11​x 2​ ​ - 6x

11. h​(x)​= ​x 4​ ​ - 2​x 3​ ​ - 3​x 2​ ​ + 4x + 4 12. ƒ​(x)​= ​x 4​ ​ - 5​x 2​ ​ + 4

13. Manufacturing A laboratory supply company is designing a new rectangular box in which to ship glass
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pipes. The company has created a box with a width 2 inches shorter than its length and a height 9 inches
taller than twice its length. The volume of each box must be 45 cubic inches. What are the dimensions?

Module 7 349 Lesson 1

14. Engineering A natural history museum is building a pyramidal glass structure for
its tree snake exhibit. Its research team has designed a pyramid with a square base and
with a height that is 2 yards more than a side of its base. The volume of the pyramid
must be 147 cubic yards. What are the dimensions?

15. Engineering A paper company is designing a new, pyramid-

shaped paperweight. Its development team has decided that to
make the length of the paperweight 4 inches less than the height
and the width of the paperweight 3 inches less than the height. The
paperweight must have a volume of 12 cubic inches. What are the
dimensions of the paperweight?

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Kingman/Shutterstock

Module 7 350 Lesson 1

 16. Match each set of roots with its polynomial function.
A. x = 2, x = 3, x = 4     ƒ​(x)​= (​ x + 2)​​(x + 4)​​ x – _ (​  3 ​ ​
2 )
B. x = –2, x = –4, x = _ 3
​   ​     ƒ​(x)​= ​ x – _
2
1
(
​   ​ ​​ x – _
2
5
)(
​   ​ ​​ x + _
4 )( 3 )
​  7 ​  ​
1
C. x = ​ _ ​, x = _ 5
​   ​, x = – _ 7
​   ​     ƒ​(x)​= (​ x – 2)​​(x – 3)​​(x – 4)​
2 4 3
D. x = – ​ _4 ​, x = _
5
​  6 ​, x = 4     ƒ​(x)​= ​ x + _
7 5 (
​  4 ​ ​​ x – _ )(7 )
​  6 ​ ​​(x – 4)​

17. Identify the zeros of ƒ​(x)​= ​(x + 3)​​(x - 4)​​(x - 3)​, write the function in standard form,
and state how the zeros are related to the standard form.

H.O.T. Focus on Higher Order Thinking

18. Critical Thinking Consider the polynomial function g​(x)​= 2​x ​3​ - 6​x ​2​ + πx + 5. Is it
possible to use the Rational Zero Theorem and synthetic division to factor this polynomial?
Explain.

19. Explain the Error Sabrina was told to find the zeros of the polynomial function
h​(x)​= x​(x - 4)​​(x + 2)​. She stated that the zeros of this polynomial are x = 0,
x = -4, and x = 2. Explain her error.
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20. Justify Reasoning If _ ​  c  ​ is a rational zero of a polynomial function p​(x)​, explain why
b
bx - c must be a factor of the polynomial.

21. Justify Reasoning A polynomial function p​(x)​has degree 3, and its zeros are –3, 4, and
6. What do you think is the equation of p​(x)​? Do you think there could be more than one
possibility? Explain.

Module 7 351 Lesson 1

Lesson Performance Task
For the years from 2001–2010, the number of Americans traveling to other countries by plane
can be represented by the polynomial function A​(t)​= 20​t 4​ ​ - 428​t 3​ ​ + 2760​t 2​ ​ - 4320t + 33,600 ,
where A is the number of thousands of Americans traveling abroad
by airplane and t is the number of years since 2001. In which year
were there 40,000,000 Americans traveling abroad? Use the
Rational Root Theorem to find your answer.
[Hint: consider the function’s domain and range before finding all
possible rational roots.]

_ m
​   ​ 20 -428 2760 -4320 -6400
n

_ m
-328

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​   ​
n 20 1120 1280

Seheult/Eye Ubiquitous/Corbis

Module 7 352 Lesson 1