Zeros of polynomials

Question 1

What are the zeros of a polynomial?

Answer 1

values of x where p(x) = 0; x-intercepts of the graph

regardless of whatever the input value is (e.g., 1,2,.5,7000, Etc.), the output is 0.

zeros are the x-intercepts of the polynomial

Question 2

If you have a zero at x=1.5, how do you represent this value as a factor, or what is the factor of this function’s value?

Answer 2

Since 1.5 equals 3/2, the p(1.5) is the same as p(3/2); therefore, the factor of 1.5 is (x-3/2) = 0. You won’t want the fraction; therefore, the final form of this factor is multiplied by 2 so that you get (2x-3) = 0.

Question 3

Polynomial

Answer 3

poly means many

nom - means “term” in maths