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

Question

anonymous · Answer

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

fibonaccichick666 · Answer

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

mathmale · Answer

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.