Write a function given a zero

12/1/2013

I need to explain how to write a function with a zero of 0.5

Work backwards from the solution:

x = 0.5 {the solution
x - 0.5 = 0 {subtracted 0.5 from each side}
(x - 0.5)(x - 0.5) = 0 {wrote as two binomials multiplied equal to zero}
x(x) + x(-0.5) - 0.5(x) - 0.5(-0.5)= 0 {used foil method}
x² - 0.5x - 0.5x + 0.25 = 0 {multiplied through}
x² - x + 0.25 = 0 {combined like terms}