Find roots of polynomial $$ p(x) = 6x^5+11x^4-33x^3-33x^2+11x+6 $$

The roots of polynomial $ p(x) $ are:

$$ \begin{aligned}x_1 &= 2\\[1 em]x_2 &= -1\\[1 em]x_3 &= -3\\[1 em]x_4 &= \frac{ 1 }{ 2 }\\[1 em]x_5 &= -\frac{ 1 }{ 3 } \end{aligned} $$

Step 1:

Use rational root test to find out that the $ \color{blue}{ x = 2 } $ is a root of polynomial $ 6x^5+11x^4-33x^3-33x^2+11x+6 $.

The Rational Root Theorem tells us that if the polynomial has a rational zero then it must be a fraction $ \dfrac{ \color{blue}{p}}{ \color{red}{q} } $, where $ p $ is a factor of the constant term and $ q $ is a factor of the leading coefficient.

The constant term is $ \color{blue}{ 6 } $, with factors of 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The leading coefficient is $ \color{red}{ 6 }$, with factors of 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The POSSIBLE zeroes are:

$$ \begin{aligned} \dfrac{\color{blue}{p}}{\color{red}{q}} = & \dfrac{ \text{ factors of 6 }}{\text{ factors of 6 }} = \pm \dfrac{\text{ ( 1, 2, 3, 6 ) }}{\text{ ( 1, 2, 3, 6 ) }} = \\[1 em] = & \pm \frac{ 1}{ 1} \pm \frac{ 2}{ 1} \pm \frac{ 3}{ 1} \pm \frac{ 6}{ 1} ~~ \pm \frac{ 1}{ 2} \pm \frac{ 2}{ 2} \pm \frac{ 3}{ 2} \pm \frac{ 6}{ 2} ~~ \pm \frac{ 1}{ 3} \pm \frac{ 2}{ 3} \pm \frac{ 3}{ 3} \pm \frac{ 6}{ 3} ~~ \pm \frac{ 1}{ 6} \pm \frac{ 2}{ 6} \pm \frac{ 3}{ 6} \pm \frac{ 6}{ 6}\\[ 1 em] \end{aligned} $$

Substitute the possible roots one by one into the polynomial to find the actual roots. Start first with the whole numbers.

We can see that $ p\left( 2 \right) = 0 $ so $ x = 2 $ is a root of a polynomial $ p(x) $.

To find remaining zeros we use Factor Theorem. This theorem states that if $ \dfrac{p}{q} $ is root of the polynomial then the polynomial can be divided by $ \color{blue}{qx − p} $. In this example we divide polynomial $ p $ by $ \color{blue}{ x-2 }$

$$ \frac{ 6x^5+11x^4-33x^3-33x^2+11x+6}{ x-2} = 6x^4+23x^3+13x^2-7x-3 $$

Step 2:

The next rational root is $ x = 2 $

$$ \frac{ 6x^5+11x^4-33x^3-33x^2+11x+6}{ x-2} = 6x^4+23x^3+13x^2-7x-3 $$

Step 3:

The next rational root is $ x = -1 $

$$ \frac{ 6x^4+23x^3+13x^2-7x-3}{ x+1} = 6x^3+17x^2-4x-3 $$

Step 4:

The next rational root is $ x = -3 $

$$ \frac{ 6x^3+17x^2-4x-3}{ x+3} = 6x^2-x-1 $$

Step 5:

The next rational root is $ x = \dfrac{ 1 }{ 2 } $

$$ \frac{ 6x^2-x-1}{ 2x-1} = 3x+1 $$

Step 6:

To find the last zero, solve equation $ 3x+1 = 0 $

$$ \begin{aligned} 3x+1 & = 0 \\[1 em] 3 \cdot x & = -1 \\[1 em] x & = - \frac{ 1 }{ 3 } \end{aligned} $$

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