Questions: Find the zeros and fully factor (f(x)=x^3-2 x^2-7 x+2), including factors for irrational zeros. Use radicals, not decimal approximations.
The zeros are
The fully factored form is (f(x)=)
Transcript text: Find the zeros and fully factor $f(x)=x^{3}-2 x^{2}-7 x+2$, including factors for irrational zeros. Use radicals, not decimal approximations.
The zeros are $\square$
The fully factored form is $f(x)=$ $\square$
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Finding the Zeros
To find the zeros of the polynomial \( f(x) = x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x + 2 \), we first identify the rational roots. The rational roots are found to be:
\[
x = -2, \quad x = 2 - \sqrt{3}, \quad x = 2 + \sqrt{3}
\]
Step 2: Factoring the Polynomial
Next, we factor the polynomial using the identified rational root \( x = -2 \). Performing synthetic division gives us:
\[
f(x) = (x + 2)(x^2 - 4x + 1)
\]
Step 3: Solving the Quadratic Equation
We then solve the quadratic equation \( x^2 - 4x + 1 = 0 \) using the quadratic formula: