P.O.D.

3/20/02
Find a cubic equation
with integral coeffs.
that has -1 and 5i as
roots.
 8.7
Finding Rational
Roots
To find rational
roots of ANY poly.
equation with
integral coefficients
use the Rational
Root Theorem
 Rational Root Thm.
In a polynomial
with integral
coeffs., every
rational root has
the following form:
h factor of CONSTANT term
=
k factor of LEADING coefficient
Ex. Find all possible
rational roots of
x +2x -11x-12=0
3 2

1st) List factors of

Constant term then
list factors of
Leading coeff.
 x +2x -11x-12=0
3 2

Factors of
Constant: -12
± 1, ± 2, ± 3, ± 4, ± 6, ± 12
Factors of Leading
Coeff.: 1
±1
2nd) List possible
rational roots by
using theorem:
h factor of CONSTANT term
=
k factor of LEADING coefficient
1 2 3 4 6 12
± ,± ,± ,± ,± ,±
1 1 1 1 1 1
3rd) TEST these
roots using the
Remainder Thm. or
synthetic division
Test x = 1
1 1 2 − 11 − 12
1 3 −Remainder
8
1 3 − 8 − is 20NOT 0
3rd) TEST these
roots using the
Remainder Thm. or
synthetic division
Test x = 1
When
1 1 2testing
− 11 each
− 12 root,
1 3 − 8
if the remainder is
3 −it8is −a 20
10 then root!
 3rd) TEST these
roots using the
Remainder Thm. or
synthetic division
Test x = 1
To 1reduce
When −the
11 number
1 2testing each
− 12 root,of
1
roots to 3 −
test,
if the remainder 8
use is
Remainder
1 3 − 8 −
Descartes’Rules!! 20
0 then it is a root!
is NOT 0
3rd) TEST these
roots using
synthetic division
Test x = − 1

r
is den
− 1 1 2 − 11 − 12

i
ma
0
− 1 − 1 − 12

Re
1 1 − 12 0
4th) Once you’ve
found a root then

tio g
solve the

ua in
n
Eq ain
remaining equation

m
for it’s roots.
x + x − 12
2
Re
= ( x − 3)( x + 4)
Roots are 3,−4, and − 1
*Sometimes there
may be NO
rational roots. If
this is true then
say so in your
answer.
*If the Remaining
Equation is higher
than degree 2 you
need to keep
testing on the
remaining eq. until
you get a quadratic
equation.
Ex. Find all possible
rational roots of
3x +4x -x +4x-4=0
4 3 2

1st) List factors of

Constant term then
list factors of
Leading coeff.
 3x +4x -x +4x-4=0
4 3 2

Factors of
Constant: -4
± 1, ± 2, ± 4
Factors of Leading
Coeff.: 3
± 1,±3
2nd) List possible
rational roots by
using theorem:
h factor of CONSTANT term
=
k factor of LEADING coefficient
1 1 2 2 4 4
± ,± ,± ,± ,± ,±
1 3 1 3 1 3
3rd) TEST these
roots using
synthetic division

r
is N inde
Test x = 1

ma
O
1 3 4 −1 4 − 4

Re
3 21 60 192
3 7 20 64 188
3rd) TEST these
roots using
synthetic division
Test x = 1
1 3 4 − 1 4 − 4
When testing each root,
3 21 60 192
if the remainder is
3 7 20 64 188
0 then it is a root!
 P.O.D.
Find any rational
roots
y –4y + 3y – 12
3 2
 P.O.D.
Find any rational
roots
y -y +y -y+1
4 3 2
# of Variations- the
# of sign changes
from one term to the
next...x -3x +4x-5
3 2

3 variations
Descartes’ Rule of
Signs:
2. When x is replaced
1. The # of positive real
by –x,
roots the
of a # of
given eq. is
negative
either real
equal roots
to the of
#
a given equation is
of variations or
either equal to the #is 2
less than the # of
of variations or is 2
variations.
less than the # of
Ex.
List the
possibilities for
the nature of the
roots of
x +3x -4=0
4 2
1 Variation1
positive
Real Root
(-x) +3(-x) -4=0
4 2

x +3x -4=0
4 2

1 Variation1
negative Real Root
x +3x -4=0
4 2
Since it’s a 4 degree
th
equation then the other
2 roots must be
imaginary
Total Possible Roots:
1 pos. & 1 neg. Real
Root &2 imaginary