Possible and actual rational roots of $$$f{\left(x \right)} = x^{6} - 64$$$

The calculator will find all possible and actual rational roots of the polynomial $$$f{\left(x \right)} = x^{6} - 64$$$, with steps shown.

If the calculator did not compute something or you have identified an error, or you have a suggestion/feedback, please contact us.

Your Input

Find the rational zeros of $$$x^{6} - 64 = 0$$$.

Solution

Since all coefficients are integers, we can apply the rational zeros theorem.

The trailing coefficient (the coefficient of the constant term) is $$$-64$$$.

Find its factors (with the plus sign and the minus sign): $$$\pm 1$$$, $$$\pm 2$$$, $$$\pm 4$$$, $$$\pm 8$$$, $$$\pm 16$$$, $$$\pm 32$$$, $$$\pm 64$$$.

These are the possible values for $$$p$$$.

The leading coefficient (the coefficient of the term with the highest degree) is $$$1$$$.

Find its factors (with the plus sign and the minus sign): $$$\pm 1$$$.

These are the possible values for $$$q$$$.

Find all possible values of $$$\frac{p}{q}$$$: $$$\pm \frac{1}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{2}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{4}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{8}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{16}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{32}{1}$$$, $$$\pm \frac{64}{1}$$$.

Simplify and remove the duplicates (if any).

These are the possible rational roots: $$$\pm 1$$$, $$$\pm 2$$$, $$$\pm 4$$$, $$$\pm 8$$$, $$$\pm 16$$$, $$$\pm 32$$$, $$$\pm 64$$$.

Next, check the possible roots: if $$$a$$$ is a root of the polynomial $$$P{\left(x \right)}$$$, the remainder from the division of $$$P{\left(x \right)}$$$ by $$$x - a$$$ should equal $$$0$$$ (according to the remainder theorem, this means that $$$P{\left(a \right)} = 0$$$).

  • Check $$$1$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 1$$$.

    $$$P{\left(1 \right)} = -63$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$-63$$$.

  • Check $$$-1$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-1\right) = x + 1$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-1 \right)} = -63$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$-63$$$.

  • Check $$$2$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 2$$$.

    $$$P{\left(2 \right)} = 0$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$0$$$.

    Hence, $$$2$$$ is a root.

  • Check $$$-2$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-2\right) = x + 2$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-2 \right)} = 0$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$0$$$.

    Hence, $$$-2$$$ is a root.

  • Check $$$4$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 4$$$.

    $$$P{\left(4 \right)} = 4032$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$4032$$$.

  • Check $$$-4$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-4\right) = x + 4$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-4 \right)} = 4032$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$4032$$$.

  • Check $$$8$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 8$$$.

    $$$P{\left(8 \right)} = 262080$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$262080$$$.

  • Check $$$-8$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-8\right) = x + 8$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-8 \right)} = 262080$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$262080$$$.

  • Check $$$16$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 16$$$.

    $$$P{\left(16 \right)} = 16777152$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$16777152$$$.

  • Check $$$-16$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-16\right) = x + 16$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-16 \right)} = 16777152$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$16777152$$$.

  • Check $$$32$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 32$$$.

    $$$P{\left(32 \right)} = 1073741760$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$1073741760$$$.

  • Check $$$-32$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-32\right) = x + 32$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-32 \right)} = 1073741760$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$1073741760$$$.

  • Check $$$64$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - 64$$$.

    $$$P{\left(64 \right)} = 68719476672$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$68719476672$$$.

  • Check $$$-64$$$: divide $$$x^{6} - 64$$$ by $$$x - \left(-64\right) = x + 64$$$.

    $$$P{\left(-64 \right)} = 68719476672$$$; thus, the remainder is $$$68719476672$$$.

Answer

Possible rational roots: $$$\pm 1$$$, $$$\pm 2$$$, $$$\pm 4$$$, $$$\pm 8$$$, $$$\pm 16$$$, $$$\pm 32$$$, $$$\pm 64$$$A.

Actual rational roots: $$$2$$$, $$$-2$$$A.