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Finding the x -intercepts of a polynomial function by factoring

Find the x -intercepts of f ( x ) = x 6 3 x 4 + 2 x 2 .

We can attempt to factor this polynomial to find solutions for f ( x ) = 0.

x 2 3 x 4 + 2 x 2 = 0 Factor out the greatest common factor . x 2 ( x 4 3 x 2 + 2 ) = 0 Factor the trinomial . x 2 ( x 2 1 ) ( x 2 2 ) = 0 Set each factor equal to zero .
( x 2 1 ) = 0 ( x 2 2 ) = 0 x 2 = 0 or x 2 = 1 or x 2 = 2 x = 0 x = ±1 x = ± 2

This gives us five x -intercepts: ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 1 , 0 ) , ( −1 , 0 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) , and ( 2 , 0 ) . See [link] . We can see that this is an even function because it is symmetric about the y -axis.

Four graphs where the first graph is of an even-degree polynomial, the second graph is of an absolute function, the third graph is an odd-degree polynomial, and the fourth graph is a disjoint function.
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Finding the x -intercepts of a polynomial function by factoring

Find the x -intercepts of f ( x ) = x 3 5 x 2 x + 5.

Find solutions for f ( x ) = 0 by factoring.

x 3 5 x 2 x + 5 = 0 Factor by grouping . x 2 ( x 5 ) ( x 5 ) = 0 Factor out the common factor . ( x 2 1 ) ( x 5 ) = 0 Factor the difference of squares . ( x + 1 ) ( x 1 ) ( x 5 ) = 0 Set each factor equal to zero .
x + 1 = 0 or x 1 = 0 or x 5 = 0 x = −1 x = 1 x = 5

There are three x -intercepts: ( −1 , 0 ) , ( 1 , 0 ) , and ( 5 , 0 ) . See [link] .

Graph of f(x)=x^6-3x^4+2x^2 with its five intercepts, (-sqrt(2), 0), (-1, 0), (0, 0), (1, 0), and (sqrt(2), 0).
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Finding the y - and x -intercepts of a polynomial in factored form

Find the y - and x -intercepts of g ( x ) = ( x 2 ) 2 ( 2 x + 3 ) .

The y -intercept can be found by evaluating g ( 0 ) .

g ( 0 ) = ( 0 2 ) 2 ( 2 ( 0 ) + 3 ) = 12

So the y -intercept is ( 0 , 12 ) .

The x -intercepts can be found by solving g ( x ) = 0.

( x 2 ) 2 ( 2 x + 3 ) = 0
( x 2 ) 2 = 0 ( 2 x + 3 ) = 0 x 2 = 0 or x = 3 2 x = 2

So the x -intercepts are ( 2 , 0 ) and ( 3 2 , 0 ) .

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Finding the x -intercepts of a polynomial function using a graph

Find the x -intercepts of h ( x ) = x 3 + 4 x 2 + x 6.

This polynomial is not in factored form, has no common factors, and does not appear to be factorable using techniques previously discussed. Fortunately, we can use technology to find the intercepts. Keep in mind that some values make graphing difficult by hand. In these cases, we can take advantage of graphing utilities.

Looking at the graph of this function, as shown in [link] , it appears that there are x -intercepts at x = −3 , −2 , and 1.

Graph of g(x)=(x-2)^2(2x+3) with its two x-intercepts (2, 0) and (-3/2, 0) and its y-intercept (0, 12).

We can check whether these are correct by substituting these values for x and verifying that

h ( 3 ) = h ( 2 ) = h ( 1 ) = 0

Since h ( x ) = x 3 + 4 x 2 + x 6 , we have:

h ( −3 ) = ( −3 ) 3 + 4 ( −3 ) 2 + ( −3 ) 6 = −27 + 36 3 6 = 0 h ( −2 ) = ( −2 ) 3 + 4 ( −2 ) 2 + ( −2 ) 6 = −8 + 16 2 6 = 0 h ( 1 ) = ( 1 ) 3 + 4 ( 1 ) 2 + ( 1 ) 6 = 1 + 4 + 1 6 = 0

Each x -intercept corresponds to a zero of the polynomial function and each zero yields a factor, so we can now write the polynomial in factored form.

h ( x ) = x 3 + 4 x 2 + x 6 = ( x + 3 ) ( x + 2 ) ( x 1 )
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Find the y - and x -intercepts of the function f ( x ) = x 4 19 x 2 + 30 x .

y -intercept ( 0 , 0 ) ; x -intercepts ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 5 , 0 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) , and ( 3 , 0 )

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Identifying zeros and their multiplicities

Graphs behave differently at various x -intercepts. Sometimes, the graph will cross over the horizontal axis at an intercept. Other times, the graph will touch the horizontal axis and "bounce" off.

Suppose, for example, we graph the function shown.

f ( x ) = ( x + 3 ) ( x 2 ) 2 ( x + 1 ) 3

Notice in [link] that the behavior of the function at each of the x -intercepts is different.

Graph of h(x)=x^3+4x^2+x-6.
Identifying the behavior of the graph at an x -intercept by examining the multiplicity of the zero.

The x -intercept x = −3 is the solution of equation ( x + 3 ) = 0. The graph passes directly through the x -intercept at x = −3. The factor is linear (has a degree of 1), so the behavior near the intercept is like that of a line—it passes directly through the intercept. We call this a single zero because the zero corresponds to a single factor of the function.

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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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