Question

Can someone help me solve this? Thanks!

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

  p(x) = x³ -3x²+4x -2

Step-by-step explanation:

When the polynomial has real coefficients, the complex roots come in conjugate pairs. You are given one root as 1+i, so there is another that is 1-i.

Each root r gives rise to a factor (x -r). Then the three roots tell you the factorization is ...

  p(x) = (x -1)(x -(1+i))(x -(1-i))

The last two factors can be recognized as the factors of the difference of squares:

  ((x -1) +i)((x -1) -i) = (x -1)² -i²

  = (x² -2x +1) -(-1) = x² -2x +2

Now the whole polynomial can be seen to be ...

  p(x) = (x -1)(x² -2x +2) = x(x² -2x +2) -1(x² -2x +2)

  p(x) = x³ -2x² +2x -x² +2x -2 . . . . eliminate parentheses

  p(x) = x³ -3x²+4x -2