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How Do You Determine the Zeros of a Polynomial Function from a Table of Values?

Using the table given and the Location Principle, determine where the zeros of the function occur.

Summary

  1. f(x) is a function depending on 'x'
  2. A zero of a function is where the graph crosses the x-axis
  3. When the sign of f(x) changes, that means we will have a zero between their corresponding x-values
  4. Three sign changes mean that there are three zeros
  5. There's a sign change between f(-1) and f(0), f(2) and f(3), and f(3) and f(4)

Notes

    1. If the value of f(x) switches signs, then the function crosses the x-axis between those x-values
    2. The same thing is true if f(a) < 0 and f(b) > 0 -- there will also be a zero between 'a' and 'b'
    3. Zeros are the points where a function crosses the x-axis
    4. f(x) is a function that depends on 'x', and 'a' and 'b' are x-values that we plug into the function
    1. If the sign of f(x) changes, then we have a zero between those two points
    1. If the sign of f(x) changes, then we have a zero between those two points
    2. f(x) switches from negative to positive when we go from -2 to 7
    3. f(x) switches from positive to negative when we go from 1 to -2
    4. f(x) switches from negative to positive when we go from -2 to 3
    5. The graph will cross the x-axis between the x-values that go with each of those points
    1. The sign changes occur between:
    2. x = -1 and x = 0
    3. x = 2 and x = 3
    4. x = 3 and x = 4
    1. The zeros of a function are where the graph crosses the x-axis
    1. If the sign of f(x) changes, then we have a zero between those two points
    2. There's a sign change between f(-1) and f(0)
    3. There's also one between f(2) and f(3)
    4. The last zero is between f(3) and f(4)
    1. Any place where the graph crosses the x-axis is a zero of the function
    1. Any place where the graph crosses the x-axis is a zero of the function
    2. The zeros are between -1 and 0
    3. 2 and 3
    4. and 3 and 4