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 possible 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.
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Number of postive real zeros \ | \
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Number of negative zeros \ | \
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Number of imaginary zeros \ | \
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Total number of zeros \ | \
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The maximum number of real zeros of is
.