# Zero's and roots

1. Feb 19, 2008

### viet_jon

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.

2. Feb 19, 2008

### sutupidmath

i think when reffering to polynomials zeros and roots refere to the same thing, however when refering 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: Feb 19, 2008
3. Feb 20, 2008

### Marco_84

you're right they are the same:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_(mathematics)

4. Feb 20, 2008

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
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.

5. Feb 21, 2008

### Marco_84

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

marco