MATHEMATICS 10 November 7, 2024

A review on your previous lesson

The Real Root/s of a Polynomial in Factored Form

How to find the roots of polynomial equation in factored form.

P ( x )=x−2 P ( x )=x ( x−4 )

x−2=0 x ( x −4 )=0
x−2=0 x=0 ( x−4 ) =0
x=2 x=0 ; x=4
real roots : { 2 } real roots : { 0 , 4 }

P ( x )=( x+ 1 ) (x−3) 2
P ( x )=(x −4)(x−1)
x +1=0 ; x−3=0 (x−2)(x +2)¿( x−1)=0
x=−1 ; x=3 ( x−2 ) =0 ( x+2 )=0(x−1)=0
real roots : {−1 ,3 } x=2 ; x=−2 ; x=1
real roots :{2 ,−2, 1 }
P ( x )=( x 2−3 x−4 ) (x 2−2 x−3)
( x 2−3 x−4 ) ( x 2−2 x−3 ) =0 P ( x )=( x 2−4 x−4 ) ( x 2−6 x +9)
( x 2−3 x−4 ) =0 ; ( x 2−2 x −3 )=0 ( x 2−4 x−4 ) ( x 2−6 x +9 ) =0
( x−4=0 ) ; ( x+1=0 ) ( x−2 )2 ( x−3 )2=0
( x−3=0 ) ;(x +1=0) ( x−2 ) =0 ( x−3 )=0
(x=4)(x=−1)(x=3)(x=−1) x=2 ; x=3
real roots :{4 , 3 ;−1 multipicity 2 } real roots :{2 multipicity 2 ; 3 multiplicity 2 }

To find the roots of polynomial equations in factored form, equate each factor to zero then solve for
the value of x

LESSON
Descartes’ Rule of Signs
INTRODUCTION
You have applied the Rational Zero Theorem to find the zeros of polynomial functions in factored
form. Now, you will apply the Descartes’ Rule of Signs to determine the possible nature of the zeros/roots
of polynomial functions.

Objectives:
1. find the number of variation of signs of a polynomial.
2. use Descartes’ Rule of Signs to find the zeros of polynomial functions.

Guide Questions:
1. What is Descartes’ Rule of Signs?
2. How can Descartes’ Rule of Signs be used to narrow down from the list of the possible zeros
of a polynomial?
DISCUSSION:

DEFINITION:

If the terms of a polynomial function P(x) are written in decreasing order according to
the powers of x (ignoring missing terms) each pair of successive coefficients with
opposite signs is called a variation of signs.

Variation of Signs – a change in sign from + to – or – to +

a. x 3−2 x 2−5 x +6 2 variations of signs + - - +

b. 2 x3 +13 x 2 +17 x−12 1 variation of sign + + + -

c. x 3−x 2+ x−1 3 variations of signs + - + -

d. 2 x 4 +3 x3 −12 x 2−7 x +6 2 variations of signs + + - - +

e. x 4 −4 x 3 +7 x 2−16 x+ 12 4 variations of signs + - + - +

Descartes’ Rule of Signs

Let P(x) be a polynomial function with real coefficients. Then

a) The number of + zeros/roots of P(x)=0 is either equal to the number of variations in signs in
P(x), or is less than that number by an even counting number. (the number of + roots may
decrease by 2 and these are the imaginary roots)

b) The number of – zeros /roots of P(x)=0 is either equal to the number of variations in signs in
P(-x), or is less than that number by an even counting number. (the number of – roots may
decrease by 2 and these are the imaginary roots)

Example 1: P(x) = x3 – 6x2 + 11x – 6 Degree 3 , there are 3 roots or zeros

P(x): + - + - There are 3 variations in signs

There are 3 positive roots

If we change x to -x then P(-x) = (- x)3 – 6(-x)2 + 11(-x) – 6

P(-x) = – x3 – 6x2 – 11x – 6

P(-x): - - - - no variation means no negative roots

.
The table below summarizes the possible combination of positive, negative, imaginary
roots/zeros of P(x)

Positive roots Negative roots Imaginary roots

3 0 0
1 0 2
 Example 2. P(x) = x3 - 2x2 - 11 x + 12 Degree 3, There are 3 zeros / roots

The signs of the terms of P(x). The 2 variations mean that there are 2 positive roots.

P(x) = x3 - 2x2 - 11 x + 12
+ - - +

P(-x) = - x3 - 2x2 +11 x + 12 There is only 1 variation in signs meaning 1 negative root
- - + +

Positive roots Negative roots Imaginary roots

2 1 0
0 1 2

Applying the Descartes Rule of Signs to find the positive and negative roots of
a polynomial function

How do we find the roots of a polynomial function using Descartes’ Rule of Signs, Synthetic
Division and Remainder Theorem?
Example 1: P(x) = x3- 2x2 - 5x + 6 Synthetic division
a) Find the number of possible roots
a0 = 6 (constant) p: ± 1, ± 2, ± 3, ± 6 1 1 -2 -5 6
1 -1 -6
an= 1 (LC) q: ± 1
3 1 -1 -6 0
p 1 2 3 6
=± ,± , ± , ± 3 6
q 1 1 1 1
1 2 0
p -2 -2
= ± 1, ± 2, ± 3, ± 6
q 1 0
Possible Zeros: ± 1 ,± 2 ,± 3 , ± 6
In testing for the roots of P(x) always start
b) Number of positive zeros:
from the least positive root in the list of
P(x) = x3- 2x2 - 5x + 6 p
+ - - + 2 possible roots .
q

c) Number of negative zeros: positive negative imaginary

P(x) = -x3- 2x2 + 5x + 6 1 2 1 0
- - + +

d) Zeros: -2, 1, 3
Example 2: P(x) = 2x3 + x2 – 5x + 2 Synthetic Division
a) Number of possible roots 1 2 1 -5 2
p = 2 : ± 1, ± 2 2 3 -2
q= 2 : ±1,±2 -2 2 3 -2 0
p 1 -4 2
= ± 1, ± 2, ±
q 2 2 -1 0
1 1/2 1
Possible Zeros: ± 1 ,± 2 ,± 2 0
2
b) Number of positive zeros:
P(x) = 2x3 + x2 – 5x + 2
+ + - + 2
positive negative imaginary
c) Number of negative zeros: 2 1 0
P(-x) = - 2x3 + x2 + 5x + 2
- + + + 1
 1
d) Zeros: 1, -2,
2

Answer the given activity by using a one whole sheet of paper

ACTIVITY Complete the table below with the appropriate entry.

Degree or
No. of No. of
No. Polynomial number of
positive roots negative roots
roots
1 P (x) = x3 + 7x2 + 14x + 8
2 P (x) = 2x4 + 7x3 – x2 – 15x – 9
3 P (x) = 2x3 – 9x+10
4 P (x) = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6

Find the roots of number 4 by showing the complete solutions like in the given examples
Steps a) with synthetic division and d) only since you have already your answer on the
number of positive and negative roots in the table.