The polynomial function is
.
The maximum number of real zeros of a polynomial function is equal to the degree of that polynomial function.
\So the maximum number of zeros of
is
.
Descartes
rule of signs is useful for finding the maximum number of real zeros of the polynomial function.
Descartes
sign rule:
The possible number of positive zeros of polynomial function
is the number of sign changes of the coefficients of
or that number minus even number.
.
Since there are
sign changes in the
the possible number of positive zeros of polynomial function
is
.
.
Since there are
sign changes in the
the impossible number of negative zeros of polynomial function
is
.
Hence, by Descartes
sign rule, the maximum number of zeros is
.
Make a table of a possible combinations of real and imaginary zeros.
\| \
Number of postive real zeros \ | \
\
Number of negative zeros \ | \
\
Number of imaginary zeros \ | \
\
Total number of zeros \ | \
| \
| \
\
| \
\
| \
\
| \
| \
| \
\
| \
\
| \
\
| \
The maximum number of real zeros of
is
.