Real Zero of a Function
A real zero of a function is a real number that makes the value of the function equal to zero.
A real number, r, is a zero of a function f, if f(r) = 0.
Example:
f(x) = x2 – 3x + 2
Find x such that f(x) = 0.
0 = x2 – 3x + 2
0 = (x – 2)(x – 1)
x = 2 or x = 1
f(2) = 22 – 3(2) + 2 = 0
f(1) = 12 – 3(1) + 2 = 0
Since f(2) = 0 and f(1) = 0, both 2 and 1 are real zeros of the function.
