Question

How to find the multiplicity of a zero of a polynomial function?

Answer 1

The multiplicity of a zero of a polynomial function is how many times a particular number is a zero for a given polynomial.

For example, in the polynomial function $f(x)=x(x+4)^2(x-2)^3$, the zeros are 0 with a multiplicity of 1, -4 with a multiplicity of 2, and 2 with a multiplicity of 3.

Although this polynomial has only three zeros, we say that it has six zeros (or degree of 6) counting the multiplicities.