a One zero is between x=- 2 and x=- 1, and the other is between x=0 and x=1.
B
b Can you write the equation as (x-a)(x-b)=0 in a simpler way?
A
a x≈ - 1.4 and x≈ 0.4
B
b See solution.
Practice makes perfect
a The reason we have to estimate the zeros is because they are between two integers. One is between x=- 2 and x=- 1, and the other is between x=0 and x=1. The first zero is somewhat closer to - 1, so we will estimate it as x≈ -1.4. The second zero is somewhat closer to 0, so we will estimate it as x≈ 0.4
b To use the Zero Product Property to solve our quadratic, we have to equate y with 0 and write the equation in the following form.
(x-a)(x-b)=0
In this form a and b are the parabola's zeros. But, as we saw from Part A, we only have estimates of these zeros. When working with zeroes that are decimal numbers we cannot find them as easily.
