How do find all zeros of the function?

g(x)=x^(4)-3x^(3)-x^(2)-12x-20

x=2i

1 Answer
Jan 2, 2018

x=+-2i,x=(3+-sqrt(29))/2

Explanation:

We have been given that x=2i is a zero. Since complex solutions to polynomials with real coefficients always come in conjugate pairs (the imaginary parts need to cancel), we know that x=-2i is also a solution.

This means that (x-2i)(x+2i)=x^2+4 is a factor of the polynomial, and we can find out the remainder using polynomial long division:
(x^2+4)(x^2-3x-5)

We can solve for when the quadratic factor equals zero using the quadratic formula:
x=(3+-sqrt(29))/2