Question

Find the zeros of the polynomial function: f(x)= x^2(x+3)^2(x-4)(x+1)^4

Answer 1

set each factor equal do zero and solve for \(x\)
for example, if \(x+3=0\) then \(x=-3\)

Answer 2

^why would you do that? ^ Keep that question in the back of your mind. What does that do?

Answer 3

Strong hint: a "zero" of a polynomial is a value of the independent variable (x) that makes the polynomial = 0.

Take the given polynomial, f(x)= x^2(x+3)^2(x-4)(x+1)^4, and set the whole thing equal to 0. Then find the several values of x at which the poly. is 0. Those are your "zeros."

On second thought: I find it difficult to decipher (make sense of) your polynomial. Where are the (+) and (-) signs between the various terms with different powers of x?

Before you do anything else, please go back to the original problem and type the poly here again.