College

For the following factored polynomial, find all of the zeros and their multiplicities.

[tex] f(x) = (x-5)^5(x+1)^7 [/tex]

Select the correct answer below:

A. [tex] x = -1 [/tex] with multiplicity 5, and [tex] x = 5 [/tex] with multiplicity 7

B. [tex] x = -1 [/tex] with multiplicity 7, and [tex] x = -5 [/tex] with multiplicity 5

C. [tex] x = 7 [/tex] with multiplicity -1, and [tex] x = 5 [/tex] with multiplicity 5

D. [tex] x = 1 [/tex] with multiplicity 7, and [tex] x = 5 [/tex] with multiplicity 5

E. [tex] x = 1 [/tex] with multiplicity 7, and [tex] x = -5 [/tex] with multiplicity 5

F. [tex] x = -1 [/tex] with multiplicity 7, and [tex] x = 5 [/tex] with multiplicity 5

Answer :

To find the zeros of the polynomial [tex]\( f(x) = (x-5)^5(x+1)^7 \)[/tex] and their multiplicities, we need to look at each factor of the polynomial individually.

1. Identify the factors:
The polynomial is given as a product of two factors: [tex]\((x-5)^5\)[/tex] and [tex]\((x+1)^7\)[/tex].

2. Find the zeros from each factor:
- From the factor [tex]\((x-5)^5\)[/tex], we set [tex]\(x-5 = 0\)[/tex]. Solving this gives [tex]\(x = 5\)[/tex]. The exponent 5 indicates the multiplicity of this zero, which is 5.
- From the factor [tex]\((x+1)^7\)[/tex], we set [tex]\(x+1 = 0\)[/tex]. Solving this gives [tex]\(x = -1\)[/tex]. The exponent 7 indicates the multiplicity of this zero, which is 7.

3. Write the zeros with their multiplicities:
- Zero: [tex]\(x = 5\)[/tex]; Multiplicity: 5
- Zero: [tex]\(x = -1\)[/tex]; Multiplicity: 7

Based on this breakdown, the correct answer is:
- [tex]\(x = -1\)[/tex] with multiplicity 7
- [tex]\(x = 5\)[/tex] with multiplicity 5

This aligns with the selection: [tex]\(x=-1\)[/tex] with multiplicity 7, and [tex]\(x=5\)[/tex] with multiplicity 5.