What are the possible rational zeros of f(x) = 3x4 + x3 - 13x2 - 2x + 9?

Question

kc_kennylau · Answer

Quartic equations. What. The. Hell.

abbles · Answer

I am confused on this one.  According to Descartes' Rule of Signs, it has two rational zeros, correct?  I got plus or minus 1 and plus or minus 3 but it says it's wrong.

kc_kennylau · Answer

you wanna try factoring it with the factor theorem?

abbles · Answer

sure?

kc_kennylau · Answer

Coz surely you can't factorize a quartic using formulas

abbles · Answer

quartic?

kc_kennylau · Answer

quartic as in linear quadratic cubic quartic quintic

abbles · Answer

okay well my lesson says to use the Rational Root Theorem

abbles · Answer

which states that p/q = possible positive rational zeros

anonymous · Answer

list all number of the form $\frac{p}{q}$ where $p$divides 9, i.e. $p=1,3,9$ and $q$ divides $3$ so $q=1,3$ 
dont forget the $\pm$

anonymous · Answer

the list will look like 
$$\pm1,\pm3,\pm9,\pm\frac{1}{3},\pm\frac{1}{9}$$ i think that is all of them

abbles · Answer

oh, can q also equal 1?  I was under the impression that it had to equal 3.

abbles · Answer

@satellite73  do you think you can help me out with another problem real quick?