Question

help please (: fan and medal

list the possible rational roots of p(x) given by the rational root theorem

1. p(x)=3x^3 - x^2 - 7x + 2

Answer 1

In your shoes I'd look up the "rational root theorem" on the Internet. I've actually done that. See: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/rtnlroot.htm

Your polynomial is p(x)=3x^3 - x^2 - 7x + 2. Look first at the last (the constant) term:P 2. What are possible factors of 2? plus or minus 1, plus or minus 2.

Next, look at the coefficient (3) of the highest - ordered term (x^3). What are the possible roots of 3?

Make up a list of the possible rational roots by starting with the factors of 2, and dividing each such factor by one of the factors of 3:

2/3, 1/3, -2/3, -1/3.

Next factor of 2 is 1, so possible rational roots are 1/3, 1/1, -1/3.

That's the general idea.

Again, please refer to http://www.purplemath.com/modules/rtnlroot.htm; if the material there is not clear to you, please do another Internet search for "rational roots" and see what the winds of the Internet bring in. ;)