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Finding Equations of Polynomial Functions With Given Zeros

This document discusses how to find the equation of a polynomial function given its zeros. It explains that polynomials can be written in general or factored form, and that a polynomial's zeros provide enough information to determine its exact form if another point on the polynomial is also provided. The document provides examples of finding polynomial equations given different types of zero information, such as single or multiple zeros, and illustrates how to account for multiplicities in the factored form. It also includes practice problems for the reader to try.

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62 views3 pages

Finding Equations of Polynomial Functions With Given Zeros

This document discusses how to find the equation of a polynomial function given its zeros. It explains that polynomials can be written in general or factored form, and that a polynomial's zeros provide enough information to determine its exact form if another point on the polynomial is also provided. The document provides examples of finding polynomial equations given different types of zero information, such as single or multiple zeros, and illustrates how to account for multiplicities in the factored form. It also includes practice problems for the reader to try.

Uploaded by

penguinam1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Finding Equations of Polynomial Functions with Given Zeros

Polynomials are functions of general form  𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0


(𝑛 ∈ 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 #′ 𝑠)

Polynomials can also be written in factored form  𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )(𝑥 − 𝑧2 ) … (𝑥 − 𝑧𝑖 ) (𝑎 ∈ ℝ)

Given a list of “zeros”, it is possible to find a polynomial function that has these specific zeros. In fact, there
are multiple polynomials that will work. In order to determine an exact polynomial, the “zeros” and a point
on the polynomial must be provided.

Examples: Practice finding polynomial equations in general form with the given zeros.

Find an* equation of a polynomial with the Find the equation of a polynomial with the
following two zeros: 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 4 following zeroes: 𝑥 = 0, −√2, √2 that goes
through the point (−2, 1).
Denote the given zeros as 𝑧1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧2
Denote the given zeros as 𝑧1 , 𝑧2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧3
Step 1: Start with the factored form of a
polynomial. Step 1: Start with the factored form of a
polynomial.
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )(𝑥 − 𝑧2 )
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )(𝑥 − 𝑧2 )(𝑥 − 𝑧3 )
Step 2: Insert the given zeros and simplify.
Step 2: Insert the given zeros and simplify.
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − (−2))(𝑥 − 4)
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 0)(𝑥 − (−√2))(𝑥 − √2)
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 4)
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥(𝑥 + √2)(𝑥 − √2)
Step 3: Multiply the factored terms
together. Step 3: Multiply the factored terms together
2
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 8)
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 3 − 2𝑥)
Step 4: The answer can be left with the
generic “𝑎”, or a value for “𝑎”can be chosen, Step 4: Insert the given point (−2, 1) to
inserted, and distributed. solve for “𝑎 “.
i.e. if 𝑎 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8 1 = 𝑎[(−2)3 − 2(−2)]
1 = 𝑎[−8 + 4]
1 = −4𝑎
i.e. if 𝑎 = −2, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑃(𝑥) = −2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 16 1
𝑎 = −4

Step 5: Insert the value for “𝑎” into the


*Each different choice for “𝑎” will result in a
polynomial, distribute, and re-write the
distinct polynomial. Thus, there are an
function.
infinite number of polynomials with the two
1 1 1
zeros 𝑥 = −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 4. 𝑃(𝑥) = − 4 (𝑥 3 − 2𝑥) = − 4 𝑥 3 + 2 𝑥
Polynomials can have zeros with multiplicities greater than 1. This is easier to see if the
Polynomial is written in factored form.
Insert Multiplicities of each zero

𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑧2 )𝑛 … (𝑥 − 𝑧𝑖 )𝑝

Insert zeros

Multiplicity - The number of times a “zero” is repeated in a polynomial. The multiplicity of


each zero is inserted as an exponent of the factor associated with the zero. If the multiplicity
is not given for a zero, it is assumed to be 1.
Examples: Practice finding polynomial equations with the given zeros and multiplicities.
Find an equation of a polynomial with the Find an equation of a polynomial with the
given zeroes and associated multiplicities. given zeros and associated multiplicities.
Leave the answer in factored form. Expand the answer into general form.
Zeros Multiplicity Zeros Multiplicity
𝑥=1 2 Zeros can 𝑥=0 3
𝑥 = −2 3 be real or 𝑥 = −1 2
𝑥=3 1 imaginary 𝑥=𝑖 1
𝑥 = −𝑖 1
Step 1: Write the factored form of the
Polynomial. Step 1: Write the factored form of the
Polynomial.
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑧2 )𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑧3 )𝑝
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑧1 )𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑧2 )𝑛 … (𝑥 − 𝑧𝑖 )𝑝
Step 2: Insert the given zeros and their Step 2: Insert the given zeros and their
corresponding multiplicities. corresponding multiplicities.
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 − −2)3 (𝑥 − 3)1 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 0)3 (𝑥 − −1)2 (𝑥 − 𝑖)1 (𝑥 − −𝑖)1
Step 3: Simplify any algebra if necessary. The Step 3: Simplify any algebra if necessary.
answer can be left with the generic “𝑎”, or a
specific value for “𝑎”can be chosen and 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 3 (𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 − 𝑖)(𝑥 + 𝑖)
inserted if requested. Step 4: Multiply the factored terms
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 2)3 (𝑥 − 3) together. Recall that 𝑖 2 = −1 ! Note the
generic “𝑎” can be used and distributed, or a
i.e. let 𝑎 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛
specific value for “𝑎” can be chosen and
𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 2)3 (𝑥 − 3)
inserted if requested.
let 𝑎 = −2, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛
𝑃(𝑥) = −2(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 2)3 (𝑥 − 3) 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 7 + 2𝑎𝑥 6 + 2𝑎𝑥 5 + 2𝑎𝑥 4 + 𝑎𝑥 3
Practice Problems: Try these problems on your own!
Find an equation of a Polynomial with the given zeros.
1. Zeros: 𝑥 = −1, −3 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3)

2. Zeros: 𝑥 = −2, 2, √3, −√3 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 2 + 12)


3. Zeros: 𝑥 = −4𝑖, 4𝑖 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 2 + 16)
Find the equation of a Polynomial given the following zeros and a point on the Polynomial.
4. Zeros: 𝑥 = 0, −4 Point: (−3 , 6) Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 2 − 8𝑥
1 3 5
5. Zeros: 𝑥 = −2, 5 Point: (2 , −3) Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 𝑥−
4 4 2
1 1
6. Zeros: 𝑥 = −4, −1, 1 Point: (2 , 9) Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥−2
2 2

Find an equation of a Polynomial given the following zeros with the listed multiplicities. In
each example, set 𝑎 = 1.
7. Zero: 𝑥 = 3, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 2 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9
8. Zero: 𝑥 = 0, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 2 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2
Zero: 𝑥 = −2, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 1

9. Zero: 𝑥 = −1, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 1 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 1


Zero: 𝑥 = 1, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 1
Zero: 𝑥 = −𝑖, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 1
Zero: 𝑥 = −𝑖, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 1

10. Zero: 𝑥 = −3, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 2 Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 18


Zero: 𝑥 = 2, 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 1

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