Problem

(c) (i) Show that P(x)=x43x315x217x6 has a triple zero.

Answer

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Answer

Thus, P(x) has a triple zero at x=1.

Steps

Step 1 :Let x be a triple zero of P(x)=x43x315x217x6. Then P(x)=(xa)3(xb) for some integers a and b.

Step 2 :Expand the expression: (xa)3(xb)=x4(3a+b)x3+(3a2+3ab)x2(a3+3a2b)x+a3b

Step 3 :By comparing coefficients, we have the following system of equations:\3ab=3\3a2+3ab=15\a33a2b=17\a3b=6

Step 4 :From the first equation, we get b=33a.

Step 5 :Substitute this into the second equation: 3a2+3a(33a)=15. Simplify to get 9a29a15=0.

Step 6 :Factor the quadratic equation: (3a5)(3a+3)=0. So, a=53 or a=1. Since a must be an integer, we have a=1.

Step 7 :Substitute a=1 into the equation for b: b=33(1)=6.

Step 8 :Now we have P(x)=(x+1)3(x6).

Step 9 :Thus, P(x) has a triple zero at x=1.

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