Zeros of a function

The zeros of a function, also referred to as roots or x-intercepts, are the x-values at which the value of the function is 0 (f(x) = 0). The zeros of a function can be thought of as the input values that result in an output of 0. It is worth noting that not all functions have real zeros.

How to find the zeros of a function

There are a number of different ways to find the zeros of a function, depending on the type of function. For simpler functions, it is relatively easy to set f(x) = 0 and solve for x, such as in the example above. The more complex the function, the more difficult it is to find its zeros; the principle remains the same however: set the function equal to zero and solve for x. In certain cases, factoring and the quadratic formula can be used to find the zeros of a function.

Find the zeros by factoring

If a function can be factored by grouping, setting each factor equal to 0 then solving for x will yield the zeros of a function.

Find the zeros using the quadratic formula

Quadratic equations are studied fairly thoroughly in algebra in part due to the prevalence of complex equations that can be reduced to quadratic equations. Since any quadratic equation can be solved using the quadratic formula, it is possible to find the zero of any quadratic equation by putting it in the form of the general quadratic equation,

ax² + bx + c = 0,

then using the quadratic formula.

Find the zeros on a graph

On a graph, the zeros of a function occur when the curve crosses the x-axis. Therefore, all zeros will have an ordered pair of the form (x, 0).

It is worth noting that just because the graph of a function doesn't cross the x-axis doesn't necessarily mean that the function does not have any zeros. It only means that the function has no real zeros, but it may have complex zeros.