Answer:
b.
Step-by-step explanation:
We have to look at sign changes in f(x) to determine the possible positive real roots.
There is only one sign change here, between the -8x and the +4. So that means there is only 1 possible real positive root.
Now we have to look at sign changes in f(-x) to determine the possible negative real roots.
There are 3 sign changes here. That means there are either 3 negative roots or 3-2 = 1 negative root. So we have:
1 positive
3 or 1 negative
We need to pair them up now with all the possible combinations.
If we have 1 positive and 1 negative, we have to have 2 imaginary
If we have 1 positive and 3 negative, we have to have 0 imaginary
Keep in mind that the total number or roots--positive, negative, imaginary--have to add up to equal the degree of the polynomial. This is a 4th degree polynomial, so we will have 4 roots.
