If [tex]-3+i[/tex] is a root of the polynomial function [tex]f(x)[/tex], which of the following must also be a root of [tex]f(x)[/tex]?

A. [tex]-3-i[/tex]

B. [tex]-3i[/tex]

C. [tex]3-i[/tex]

D. [tex]3i[/tex]



Answer :

Given that [tex]\(-3+i\)[/tex] is a root of the polynomial function [tex]\(f(x)\)[/tex], we need to identify which other number must also be a root of [tex]\(f(x)\)[/tex].

For polynomials with real coefficients, if a complex number [tex]\(a+bi\)[/tex] (where [tex]\(a\)[/tex] and [tex]\(b\)[/tex] are real numbers and [tex]\(b \neq 0\)[/tex]) is a root, then its complex conjugate [tex]\(a-bi\)[/tex] must also be a root. This happens because the coefficients of the polynomial are real.

Given that the root is [tex]\(-3+i\)[/tex]:

1. The real part of the root is [tex]\(-3\)[/tex].
2. The imaginary part of the root is [tex]\(i\)[/tex].

The complex conjugate of [tex]\(-3+i\)[/tex] is obtained by changing the sign of the imaginary part:

[tex]\[ -3+i \rightarrow -3-i \][/tex]

Therefore, [tex]\(-3-i\)[/tex] must also be a root of the polynomial [tex]\(f(x)\)[/tex].

So the correct answer is:

[tex]\(-3-i\)[/tex]

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