Answer :

To express [tex]\( g(x) = x^3 + 7x^2 + 20x + 24 \)[/tex] as a product of linear factors given that [tex]\(-3\)[/tex] is a zero, follow these steps:

1. Verify that [tex]\(-3\)[/tex] is a zero:
Substitute [tex]\( x = -3 \)[/tex] into the polynomial to see if it equals zero.
[tex]\[ g(-3) = (-3)^3 + 7(-3)^2 + 20(-3) + 24 \][/tex]
Calculate each term:
[tex]\[ (-3)^3 = -27 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 7(-3)^2 = 7(9) = 63 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 20(-3) = -60 \][/tex]
Summing these values, we get:
[tex]\[ g(-3) = -27 + 63 - 60 + 24 = 0 \][/tex]
Hence, [tex]\(-3\)[/tex] is indeed a zero of the polynomial.

2. Perform polynomial division of [tex]\( g(x) \)[/tex] by [tex]\( (x + 3) \)[/tex]:

To factorize [tex]\( g(x) \)[/tex] by [tex]\( (x + 3) \)[/tex], we use synthetic division or long division. We'll use synthetic division here.

[tex]\(-3\)[/tex] | [tex]\( 1 \quad 7 \quad 20 \quad 24 \)[/tex]

Perform synthetic division:
- Bring down the leading coefficient [tex]\(1\)[/tex].
- Multiply [tex]\(-3\)[/tex] by the current coefficient in the division (start with [tex]\(1\)[/tex]) and add it to the next coefficient.
- Repeat the step for all coefficients.

[tex]\[ \begin{array}{r|rrrr} -3 & 1 & 7 & 20 & 24 \\ \hline & & -3 & -12 & -24 \\ \hline & 1 & 4 & 8 & 0 \\ \end{array} \][/tex]

The coefficients of the quotient polynomial are [tex]\(1, 4, 8\)[/tex], which corresponds to [tex]\( x^2 + 4x + 8 \)[/tex].

Therefore,
[tex]\[ \frac{x^3 + 7x^2 + 20x + 24}{x + 3} = x^2 + 4x + 8 \][/tex]

So,
[tex]\[ g(x) = (x + 3)(x^2 + 4x + 8) \][/tex]

3. Factorize the quadratic polynomial [tex]\( x^2 + 4x + 8 \)[/tex]:

To factorize [tex]\(x^2 + 4x + 8\)[/tex], we look for factors that satisfy the form [tex]\((x - r_1)(x - r_2)\)[/tex], where [tex]\(r_1\)[/tex] and [tex]\(r_2\)[/tex] are the roots of the quadratic equation.

The quadratic equation [tex]\(x^2 + 4x + 8 = 0\)[/tex] can be solved using the quadratic formula:
[tex]\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \][/tex]
where [tex]\( a = 1, b = 4, \)[/tex] and [tex]\( c = 8 \)[/tex].

[tex]\[ x = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{4^2 - 4(1)(8)}}{2(1)} = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{16 - 32}}{2} = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{-16}}{2} = \frac{-4 \pm 4i}{2} = -2 \pm 2i \][/tex]

Thus, the roots of [tex]\(x^2 + 4x + 8\)[/tex] are [tex]\( -2 + 2i \)[/tex] and [tex]\( -2 - 2i \)[/tex].

Therefore:
[tex]\[ x^2 + 4x + 8 = (x - (-2 + 2i))(x - (-2 - 2i)) = (x + 2 - 2i)(x + 2 + 2i) \][/tex]

4. Combine all factors:

Finally, we have:
[tex]\[ g(x) = (x + 3)(x + 2 - 2i)(x + 2 + 2i) \][/tex]

Therefore, [tex]\( g(x) = x^3 + 7x^2 + 20x + 24 \)[/tex] expressed as a product of linear factors is:
[tex]\[ g(x) = (x + 3)(x + 2 - 2i)(x + 2 + 2i) \][/tex]