How do you find all zeros of g(t)=t^5-6t^3+9t?

1 Answer
Mar 5, 2017

t = -sqrt3, 0, sqrt3

Explanation:

Since all terms have a t in them, you can factor that out:

t^5 - 6t^3 + 9t = t(t^4 - 6t^2 + 9)

You can factor that, too, treating t^2 as the subject, a bit like x in a standard quadratic.

(t^2)^2 - 6(t^2) + 9 = (t^2-3)(t^2-3) = (t^2-3)^2

Now we have

g(t) = t(t^2-3)^2 = 0

For this to equal to 0, at least one of the factors has to equal 0, so either

t = 0

which gives us a solution already, or

(t^2-3)^2 = 0

so

(t^2-3)^2=0

t^2-3 = 0

t^2 = 3

t = +-sqrt3

Therefore, we have three total solutions for t:

t = -sqrt3, 0, sqrt3