Are Zero's and Roots the Same Thing?

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SUMMARY

Zeros and roots are not synonymous, although they are often used interchangeably in casual discussions. A root of an equation is defined as any solution to that equation, while a zero of a function, denoted as f(x), specifically refers to a solution of the equation f(x) = 0. This distinction is crucial for precise mathematical communication, despite some sources, including Wikipedia, conflating the terms.

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viet_jon
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zero's and roots...

Zero's are the same thing as roots, correct?

I have a question where a) askes what's the zero's. Then b) asks what are the roots.


pretty sure it's the same.
 
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i think when referring to polynomials zeros and roots refere to the same thing, however when referring to functions i think that we cannot reffer to it as the roots of a function, but only we should referr as the zeros of a function.
I am not quite sure though!
 
Last edited:
viet_jon said:
Zero's are the same thing as roots, correct?

I have a question where a) askes what's the zero's. Then b) asks what are the roots.


pretty sure it's the same.

you're right they are the same:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_(mathematics)
 
No, they are not the same. Not if you are being very "correct".

A root of an equation is any solution to that equation.

A zero of a function, f(x), is any solution to the equation, f(x)= 0.

I see that Wikipedia says the opposite, saying that a "root of a function" is the same as a "zero of a function" but I think that is very sloppy terminology. Unfortunately even mathematicians get sloppy sometimes.
 
HallsofIvy said:
No, they are not the same. Not if you are being very "correct".

A root of an equation is any solution to that equation.

A zero of a function, f(x), is any solution to the equation, f(x)= 0.

I see that Wikipedia says the opposite, saying that a "root of a function" is the same as a "zero of a function" but I think that is very sloppy terminology. Unfortunately even mathematicians get sloppy sometimes.

i mean what you are saing i think you are right...

marco
 

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