Exercise 2.5.3

The possible rational zeros are \(\pm1\), \(\pm5\), \(\pm\frac{1}{2}\), \(\pm\frac{5}{2}\). Applying abbreviated synthetic division, we find

\(2\)\(3\)\(8\)\(-5\)
\(1\)\(2\)\(5\)\(13\)\(8\)
\(5\)\(2\)\(13\)\(73\)\(360\)
\(-1\)\(2\)\(1\)\(7\)\(-12\)
\(-5\)\(2\)\(-7\)\(43\)\(-220\)
\(\frac{1}{2}\)\(2\)\(4\)\(10\)\(0\)

Since \(\frac{1}{2}\) gives a remainder of \(0\), \(\frac{1}{2}\) is a zero of the function. Using the result of the last row we see that the polynomial factors as \[ \left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)(2x^2+4x+10)=2\left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)(x^2+2x+5)=(2x-1)(x^2+2x+5) \]

Thus, the complex zeros are the zeros of \(x^2+2x+5\).

Setting \(x^2+2x+5=0\) and solving for \(x\) using the quadratic formula we find the complex zeros:

\[ x=\dfrac{-2\pm\sqrt{4-20}}{2}=-1\pm2\,i \]