Question 15 Marks
If $2$ and $0$ are the zeros of the polynomial $f(x)=2 x^3-5 x^2+a x+b$ then find the values of $a$ and $b$. Hint: $f(x)=0$ and $f(0)=0$.
Answer
View full question & answer→It is given that $2$ and $0$ are the zeros of the polynomial $f(x) = 2x^3 - 5x^2 + ax + b.$
$\therefore$ $f(2) = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2 \times 2^3 - 5 \times 2^2 + a \times 2 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 16 - 20 + 2a + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow -4 + 2a + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2a + b = 4 ...(1)$
Also, $f(0) = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2 \times 0^3 - 5 \times 0^2 + a \times 0 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 0 - 0 + 0 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow b = 0$ Putting $b = 0$ in $(1),$
we get $2a + 0 = 4$
$\Rightarrow 2a = 4$
$\Rightarrow a = 2$
Thus, the values of $a$ and $b$ are $2$ and $0$, respectively.
$\therefore$ $f(2) = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2 \times 2^3 - 5 \times 2^2 + a \times 2 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 16 - 20 + 2a + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow -4 + 2a + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2a + b = 4 ...(1)$
Also, $f(0) = 0$
$\Rightarrow 2 \times 0^3 - 5 \times 0^2 + a \times 0 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow 0 - 0 + 0 + b = 0$
$\Rightarrow b = 0$ Putting $b = 0$ in $(1),$
we get $2a + 0 = 4$
$\Rightarrow 2a = 4$
$\Rightarrow a = 2$
Thus, the values of $a$ and $b$ are $2$ and $0$, respectively.
