using polyval(a,x)

Hi guys please help me I cant seem to figure out how to use polyval(a,x), I need to use it to solve the following problem:

1.) Confirm that 6x^3+4x^2-5/12x^3-7x^2+3x+9=0.7108 when x=2;

please help me. thanks

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

It doesn't

fzero(@(x)6*x^3+4*x^2-5/12*x^3-7*x^2+3*x+8.2892,pi)

Answer 2

[Paulo Silva]

%first way to find if the equality is correct
f=@(x) (-5/12+6)*x^3+(-7+4)*x^2+3*x+9;
f(2)
%second way
polyval([-5/12+6 -7+4 3 9],2)
%yet another way that only works if you have the symbolic toolbox
syms x
f=6*x^3+4*x^2-5/12*x^3-7*x^2+3*x+9;
subs(f,x,2)

every way gives the value 47.666666666666664 not 0.7108, so it's not confirmed, the assumption is wrong.

f=@(x) (-5/12+6)*x^3+(-7+4)*x^2+3*x+9;
ezplot(f,[0 4])
hold on
line(xlim,[0.7108 0.7108],'color',[1 0 0])
line([2 2],ylim,'color',[1 0 0])
plot(2,f(2),'o','linewidth',4,'markersize',10)
text(2,f(2),['\leftarrow' 'x=2 and y=' num2str(f(2))],'FontSize',18)
text(2,0.7108,['\leftarrow' 'x=2 and y=' '0.7108'],'FontSize',18)

[Sean de Wolski]

And ezplot makes a pretty picture to confirm:

ezplot(f)

[Paulo Silva]

yes it does :)