Determine the equation of a cubic function with zeros 2 √3 and -1 whose graph passes through the point (2, -18)

y = a(x-2)(x-√3)(x+1)

since y(2) = -18, this is impossible. So maybe you meant the zeroes are
2±√3 and -1. In that case,
y = a(x-(2-√3))(x-(2+√3))(x+1) = a(x^3 - 3x^2 - 3x + 1)
since y(2) = -18, that means that
a(-9) = -18
so a = 2 and y = 2(x^3 - 3x^2 - 3x + 1)

To find the equation of a cubic function with given zeros and a point it passes through, we can use the factored form of the function.

Given zeros: 2 √3 and -1
Since the zeros are given, we know that the factors of the cubic function are (x - 2 √3) and (x + 1).
To find the third factor, we need to use the given point (2, -18).

Let's start by finding the third factor:

Substitute the given zero, 2 √3, into the cubic function to get:
(2 √3 - 2 √3) = 0

So, the third factor is (x - 2 √3).

Now, let's find the equation of the cubic function:

Multiply the three factors together:
(x - 2 √3)(x + 1)(x - 2 √3)

Expanding the expression:
(x - 2 √3)(x^2 - 2 √3x + x - 2 √3)

Simplifying:
(x - 2 √3)(x^2 - √3x - √3x - 6)

Expanding and combining like terms:
x^3 - √3x^2 - √3x^2 + 6x - 2 √3x + 3x + 2 √3 - 6

Simplifying:
x^3 - 2 √3x^2 + 9x - 4 √3

Therefore, the equation of the cubic function with zeros 2 √3 and -1, and passing through the point (2, -18) is:
f(x) = x^3 - 2 √3x^2 + 9x - 4 √3

To determine the equation of a cubic function with given zeros and one additional point, we can use the fact that the zeros of a function correspond to the factors of its equation.

Step 1: Determine the factors
Since the zeros are 2√3 and -1, the factors of the cubic function are (x - 2√3), (x + 1), and an unknown factor, let's call it (x - a), where 'a' is yet to be determined.

Step 2: Determine the complete equation
Multiplying the factors together, we get:

(x - 2√3)(x + 1)(x - a)

Step 3: Use the given point to determine 'a'
Since the graph passes through the point (2, -18), we can substitute these values into the equation:

(-18) = (2 - 2√3 + 1)(2 + 1)(2 - a)

Simplify this equation:

(-18) = (3 - 2√3)(2 - a)

Step 4: Solve for 'a'
Expand the equation:

-18 = 6 - 3√3 - 2a + 2√3a

Combine like terms:

-24 = 6√3 - 2a + 2√3a

Bring all 'a' terms to one side:

2a - 2√3a = 6√3 + 24

Factor 'a' on the left side:

a(2 - 2√3) = 6√3 + 24

Divide both sides by (2 - 2√3):

a = (6√3 + 24) / (2 - 2√3)

Step 5: Simplify 'a'
To simplify 'a', we rationalize the denominator by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator:

a = [(6√3 + 24) / (2 - 2√3)] * [(2 + 2√3) / (2 + 2√3)]

Multiply the numerators and denominators:

a = [(12√3 + 48 + 12√3√3 + 48√3) / (4 - 12)]

Simplify:

a = [60 + 20√3] / (-8)

Simplify further:

a = -7.5 - 2.5√3

Step 6: Determine the complete equation
Now that we have the value of 'a', substitute it back into the equation:

(x - 2√3)(x + 1)(x - (-7.5 - 2.5√3))

Simplify:

(x - 2√3)(x + 1)(x + 7.5 + 2.5√3)

Expand and multiply the factors:

(x^2 - 2√3x + x - 2√3)(x + 7.5 + 2.5√3)

Simplify:

(x^2 - √3x - 2√3)(x + 7.5 + 2.5√3)

Multiply using the distributive property:

x^3 + (7.5 + 2.5√3)x^2 - √3x^2 + (21.25 + 7.5√3 + 5√3 + 2√3^2)x - 14.14√3 - 4.71√3^2

Simplify:

x^3 + (7.5 + 2.5√3 - √3)x^2 + (28.75 + 12.5√3)x - 14.14√3 - 14.14

Therefore, the equation of the cubic function is:

f(x) = x^3 + (7.5 + 2.5√3 - √3)x^2 + (28.75 + 12.5√3)x - 14.14√3 - 14.14