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Is 2 a zero of p(x) = x³ - 2x² - x + 2? Is -2 a zero?

Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.

Is $2$ a zero of $p(x) = x^3 - 2x^2 - x + 2$ ? Is $-2$ a zero?

Need a reminder? The key ideaShow

A zero of $p(x)$ is a number $a$ with $p(a) = 0$ : the graph meets the x-axis there. A polynomial of degree $n$ has at most $n$ zeroes. The zero of $ax + b$ is $-\dfrac{b}{a}$ .

The worked solution

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Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.

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Is 2 a zero of p(x) = x³ - 2x² - x + 2? Is -2 a zero?

The worked solution

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