The zeros of a function are the values of the variable that make the function equal to zero. In simpler terms, if you input these values into the function, you will get an output of zero.
For example, consider the function f(x) = x² – 4. To find the zeros, we need to solve the equation f(x) = 0:
- x² – 4 = 0
- x² = 4
- x = ±2
This means that the zeros of the function f(x) = x² – 4 are x = 2 and x = -2. These points are where the graph of the function crosses the x-axis.
Finding the zeros is crucial in many applications, as it helps understand the behavior of functions in various fields like physics, engineering, and economics.