Rational Root Theorem Definition Math
It provides a list of all possible rational roots of the polynomial equation where all coefficients are integers.
Rational root theorem definition math. The rational roots theorem the rational roots theorem is a very useful theorem. In algebra the rational root theorem or rational root test rational zero theorem rational zero test or p q theorem states a constraint on rational solutions of a polynomial equation. The rational root theorem says if a polynomial equation a n x n a n 1 x n 1 a 1 x a 0 0 has rational root p q p q z then the denominator q divides the leading coefficient and the numerator p divides a 0. A theorem that provides a complete list of possible rational roots of the polynomial equation a n x n a n 1 x n 1 a 2 x 2 a 1 x a 0 0 where all coefficients are integers.
The rational root theorem states that if a polynomial with integer coefficients f x p n x n p n 1 x n 1 p 1 x p 0 f x p n x n p n 1 x n 1 cdots p 1 x p 0 f x p n x n p n 1 x n 1 p 1 x p 0 has a rational root of the form r a b r pm frac a b r b a with gcd a b 1 gcd a b 1 g cd a b 1 then a p 0 a vert p 0 a p 0 and b p n b vert p n b p n. The rational zeros theorem also called the rational root theorem is used to check whether a polynomial has rational roots zeros. The rational root theorem rrt is a handy tool to have in your mathematical arsenal. This list consists of all possible numbers of the form c d where c and d are integers.
It provides and quick and dirty test for the rationality of some expressions. Rational root theorem also called rational root test in algebra theorem that for a polynomial equation in one variable with integer coefficients to have a solution root that is a rational number the leading coefficient the coefficient of the highest power must be divisible by the denominator of the fraction and the constant term the one without a variable must be divisible by the numerator. Rational root theorem if p x 0 is a polynomial equation with integral coefficients of degree n in which a 0 is the coefficients of xn and a n is the constant term then for any rational root p q where p and q are relatively prime integers p is a factor of a n and q is a factor of a 0 a 0 xn a 1 xn 1 a n 1 x a n 0 that s math talk. It tells you that given a polynomial function with integer or whole number coefficients a list of possible solutions.
As an addition to this theorem for every whole number k number p k q is a divisor of f k. A n x n a n 1 x n 1 a 0 0.