Question

How do you write a polynomial function of least degree with integral coefficients that has the given zeros 3, 2, -2?

Answer 1

`f(x) = (x-3)(x-2)(x+2)=x^3-3x^2-4x+12`

Explanation:

`f(x) = (x-3)(x-2)(x+2)`

`=(x-3)(x^2-4)`

`=x^3-3x^2-4x+12`

Any polynomial in `x` with these zeros will be a multiple (scalar or polynomial) of this `f(x)`.