How do you find any rational roots for the equation: #x^4 + 3x^3 - x^2 - 9x - 6 = 0#?
1 Answer
This quartic has rational roots
It has irrational zeros
Explanation:
#x^4+3x^3-x^2-9x-6=0#
By the rational roots theorem, any rational roots of this quartic are expressible in the form
That means that the only possible rational zeros are:
#+-1, +-2, +-3, +-6#
Notice that if we reverse the signs of the coefficients on the terms of odd degree then the sum is
#1-3-1+9-3 = 0#
Hence
#x^4+3x^3-x^2-9x-6 = (x+1)(x^3+2x^2-3x-6)#
Notice that the ratio between the first and second terms of the remaining cubic is the same as that between the third and fourth terms. So this cubic will factor by grouping:
#x^3+2x^2-3x-6 = (x^3+2x^2)-(3x+6)#
#color(white)(x^3+2x^2-3x-6) = x^2(x+2)-3(x+2)#
#color(white)(x^3+2x^2-3x-6) = (x^2-3)(x+2)#
#color(white)(x^3+2x^2-3x-6) = (x-sqrt(3))(x+sqrt(3))(x+2)#
So the remaining zeros are