Answer:
a = 2, b = 0 , x = [tex]\frac{1}{2}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that x = 0 and x = 2 are zeros of p(x) , then
p(0) = 0 and p(2) = 0
p(0) = 2(0)³ - 5(0)² + a(0) + b = 0 , that is
0 - 0+ 0 + b = 0, then b = 0
p(2) = 2(2)³ - 5(2)² + 2a + b = 0 , that is
16 - 20 + 2a + 0 = 0
- 4 + 2a = 0 ( add 4 to both sides )
2a = 4 ( divide both sides by 2 )
a = 2
Then
p(x) = 2x³ - 5x² + 2x ← factor out x from each term
= x(2x² - 5x + 2)
= x(2x - 1)(x - 2)
To find zeros equate p(x) to zero
x(2x - 1)(x - 2) = 0
Equate each factor to zero and solve for x
x = 0
x - 2 = 0 ⇒ x = 2
These are the 2 zeros already known (given)
2x - 1 = 0 ⇒ 2x = 1 ⇒ x = [tex]\frac{1}{2}[/tex] ← third zero of p(x)
