Problem

(a) For the function $f(x)=x^{4}+361$, factor $f$ into the product of two irreducible quadratics.
(b) Find the zeros of $\mathrm{f}$ by finding the zeros of each irreducible quadratic.
(a) $f(x)=$
(Factor completely. Type an exact answer, using radicals as needed.)

Answer

Expert–verified
Hide Steps
Answer

\(\boxed{f(x)=(x^2-19)(x^2+19)}\) is the final answer.

Steps

Step 1 :Rewrite the function \(f(x)=x^{4}+361\) as \(f(x)=x^{4}-(-19)^2\).

Step 2 :Recognize this as a difference of squares, which can be factored as \((x^2-19)(x^2+19)\).

Step 3 :Note that these are not irreducible quadratics over the real numbers, as they can be factored further.

Step 4 :The first factor can be factored as \((x-\sqrt{19})(x+\sqrt{19})\), and the second factor can be factored as \((x-i\sqrt{19})(x+i\sqrt{19})\), where \(i\) is the imaginary unit.

Step 5 :However, these are not quadratics, so the original factors \((x^2-19)\) and \((x^2+19)\) are the irreducible quadratics over the real numbers.

Step 6 :\(\boxed{f(x)=(x^2-19)(x^2+19)}\) is the final answer.

link_gpt