Presenting the Rational Zero Theorem

ª A rational number is a fraction.

ª If the polynomial f ( x ) = an x n + an −1 x n −1 + ...a1 x + a0 has integer coefficients, then every

p
rational zero of f has the form where p and q have no common factors other than 1,
q
p is a factor of a0 , and q is a factor of an . (The factors of a0 and an include all positive
and negative factors.)

ª The rational zero theorem says that every rational zero for a function takes the form of
a fraction with the numerator being a factor of the constant that ends the function and
the denominator being a factor of the coefficient of the highest power in the function.

ª To find all rational zeros, make a list of the factors of the final constant and the
beginning coefficient. Combine these factors in all unique possibilities with the constant’s
factors in the numerator and the coefficient’s factors in the denominator. Substitute each
of these into the function, and each one that yields f (x) = 0 is a rational zero.

Because this function is already factored, its

zeros are easy to find.

To see how the rational zero theorem

works, multiply the factors together and
focus your attention on the 6, which is the
coefficient of the highest power, and the 10,
which is the final constant.

Make a list of all the factors of 6.

Also make a list of all the factors of 10.

The theorem says that every rational zero

must be a fraction with a factor of 10 in the
numerator, and a factor of 6 in the
denominator.

One zero is 2. It fits the rule that every

possible zero is on the list of p/q values. "p"
is all the factors of 10. "q" is all the factors of
6. Your zero, 2, has a numerator of 2 which
is a factor of 10. Its denominator is 1, which
is a factor of 6.

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 Another zero is 5/2. It also has a factor of 10
in the numerator and a factor of 6 in the
denominator.

You can check every rational zero and find

that the theorem applies.

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Considering Possible Solutions

ª If the polynomial f ( x ) = an x n + an −1 x n −1 + ...a1 x + a0 has integer coefficients, then every

p
rational zero of f has the form where p and q have no common factors other than 1,
q
p is a factor of a0 , and q is a factor of an . (The factors of a0 and an include all positive
and negative factors.)

ª Any function of degree n will have n roots, or zeros, in some mixture of real and
imaginary numbers.

To create your list of possible zeros for this

f (x):
Look at the constant ending the function: 3.
Look at the coefficient of the highest-degree
term in the function, x 2: 2.
1. List all the factors for "p", i.e., 3.
2. List all the factors for "q", i.e., 2.
3. Make all the possible p/q fractions, i.e.,
with the factors of 3 as the numerators
and the factors of 2 as the denominators.

Note: Remember to consider that every

factor can be both + and –.

Now substitute each possibility into the

function in place of x.

Any value for which f(x) = 0 is a root of the

function.

From our list of eight possibilities, two

created f (x) = 0. So, we know that our
zeroes are –1/2 and –3.

If the function factors, you can do that

process and derive the same answers.

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