Question

The function p(x) = x(x - 5)(x − 2)(x+3) has four zeros. What is the smallest zero?

Answer 1

Answer:

x = -3

Step-by-step explanation:

x(x-5)(x-2)(x+3) = 0    means at least one of these terms = 0

so  

                        x = 0       or

x-5 = 0     then x = 5        or

x-2 = 0     then x = 2       or

x+3 = 0     then x= -3

Answer 2

Answer: The smallest zero is -3.

Step-by-step explanation: Zeros of a function are the values of input for which the function gives 0 output.

Here, the given function is,

p(x) = x(x-5)(x-2)(x+3)

For finding the zeroes of p(x),

p(x) = 0

⇒ x(x-5)(x-2)(x+3) = 0,

⇒ x = 0 or x - 5 = 0 or x-2=0 or x+3=0

⇒ x = 0 or x = 5 or x = 2 or x = -3

Thus, the zeros of the given function are 0, 5, 2, -3

In which -3 is smallest.