Multiplicity
How many times a particular number is a zero for
a given polynomial. For example, in the polynomial function f(x)
= (x – 3)4(x – 5)(x – 8)2,
the zero 3 has multiplicity 4, 5 has multiplicity 1, and 8 has
multiplicity 2. Although this polynomial has only three zeros,
we say that it has seven zeros counting multiplicity.
See
also
Double root, triple
root, fundamental theorem of
algebra
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