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10 Graphs of Polynomial Functions

The document discusses polynomial functions and how to graph them. It defines polynomials as functions of the form f(x)=anxn+an-1xn-1+...+a1x+a0, where n is a positive integer and the coefficients are real numbers. The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of x. To graph polynomials, one determines the left and right behavior based on the highest term, finds intercepts, determines zeros (x-intercepts), and draws a smooth curve through the points while following the behavior. Zeros have even or odd multiplicities determining if the curve touches or crosses the x-axis.

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Grantt Christian
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
104 views

10 Graphs of Polynomial Functions

The document discusses polynomial functions and how to graph them. It defines polynomials as functions of the form f(x)=anxn+an-1xn-1+...+a1x+a0, where n is a positive integer and the coefficients are real numbers. The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of x. To graph polynomials, one determines the left and right behavior based on the highest term, finds intercepts, determines zeros (x-intercepts), and draws a smooth curve through the points while following the behavior. Zeros have even or odd multiplicities determining if the curve touches or crosses the x-axis.

Uploaded by

Grantt Christian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polynomial Functions

and Graphs
Remember integers are … –2, -1, 0, 1, 2 … (no decimals
or fractions) so positive integers would be 0, 1, 2 …

A polynomial function is a function of the form:


n must be a positive integer

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest


power on any x term in the polynomial.
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.
0
x A polynomial of degree 0.

Not a polynomial because of the


square root since the power is NOT
an integer

Not a polynomial because of the x in


the denominator since the power is
negative
Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.

No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn


without lifting pencil from paper

This IS the graph This IS NOT the graph


of a polynomial of a polynomial
Let’s look at the graph of where n is an
even integer.

and grows
steeper on either
side

Notice each graph


looks similar to x2 The higher the
but is wider and power, the flatter
flatter near the and steeper
origin between –1
and 1
Let’s look at the graph of where n is an odd
integer.

Notice each graph and grows


looks similar to x3 steeper on
but is wider and either side
flatter near the
origin between –1
and 1

The higher the


power, the flatter
and steeper
Let’s graph
Translates up 2

Reflects about Looks like x2


the x-axis but wider near
origin and
steeper after 1
and -1

So as long as the function


is a transformation of xn,
we can graph it, but what if
it’s not? We’ll learn some
techniques to help us
determine what the graph
looks like in the next slides.
and
LEFT RIGHT

HAND BEHAVIOUR OF A GRAPH

The degree of the polynomial along with the sign of the


coefficient of the term with the highest power will tell us
about the left and right hand behaviour of a graph.
Even degree polynomials rise on both the left and
right hand sides of the graph (like x2) if the coefficient
is positive. The additional terms may cause the
graph to have some turns near the center but will
always have the same left and right hand behaviour
determined by the highest powered term.

left hand right hand


behaviour: rises behaviour: rises
Even degree polynomials fall on both the left and
right hand sides of the graph (like - x2) if the
coefficient is negative.

turning points
in the middle

left hand
behaviour: falls right hand
behaviour: falls
Odd degree polynomials fall on the left and rise on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is positive.

turning Points
in the middle right hand
behaviour: rises

left hand
behaviour: falls
Odd degree polynomials rise on the left and fall on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is negative.
turning points
in the middle

left hand
behaviour: rises

right hand
behaviour: falls
A polynomial of degree n can have at most n-1 turning
points (so whatever the degree is, subtract 1 to get
the most times the graph could turn).
Let’s determine left and right hand behaviour for the
graph of the function: doesn’t mean it has that many turning
points but that’s the most it can have

degree is 4 which is even and the coefficient is positive so the


graph will look like x2 looks off to the left and off to the right.

The graph can How do we


have at most 3 determine
what it looks
turning points
like near the
middle?
x and y intercepts would be useful and we know how
to find those. To find the y intercept we put 0 in for x.

To find the x intercept we put 0 in for y.

Finally we need a smooth (0,30)


curve through the
intercepts that has the
correct left and right hand
behavior. To pass through
these points, it will have 3
turns (one less than the degree
so that’s okay)
We found the x intercept by putting 0 in for f(x) or y (they
are the same thing remember). So we call the x intercepts
the zeros of the polynomial since it is where it = 0. These
are also called the roots of the polynomial.
Can you find the zeros
of the polynomial?

There are repeated factors. (x-1) is to the 3rd power so it


is repeated 3 times. If we set this equal to zero and solve
we get 1. We then say that 1 is a zero of multiplicity 3
(since it showed up as a factor 3 times).
What are the other -2 is a zero of multiplicity 2
zeros and their 3 is a zero of multiplicity 1
multiplicities?
So knowing the zeros of a polynomial we can plot them on
the graph. If we know the multiplicity of the zero, it tells us
whether the graph crosses the x axis at this point (odd
multiplicities CROSS) or whether it just touches the axis
and turns and heads back the other way (even multiplicities
TOUCH). Let’s try to graph:
What would the left and
right hand behavior be?
You don’t need to multiply this out but figure out what the
highest power on an x would be if multiplied out. In this
case it would be an x3. Notice the negative out in front.
What would the y 1 of mult. 1
intercept be? (0, 4) (so crosses axis
at 1)
Find the zeros and -2 of mult. 2
their multiplicity (so touches at 2)
Steps for Graphing a Polynomial
•Determine left and right hand behaviour by looking at the highest
power on x and the sign of that term.

•Determine maximum number of turning points in graph by subtracting 1


from the degree.

•Find and plot y intercept by putting 0 in for x

•Find the zeros (x intercepts) by setting polynomial = 0 and solving.

•Determine multiplicity of zeros.

•Join the points together in a smooth curve touching or crossing zeros


depending on multiplicity and using left and right hand behavior as a
guide.
Let’s graph:
Let’s graph:

•Determine
•Find
•Determine
•Find
•Join and
the
the plot
points
zeros left
y (x and right
maximum
intercept
together
intercepts)
in ahand
number
by behavior
putting
of
smooth
by turns
0
settingin for
curve inby
x looking
graph
polynomial
touchingby
= atand
or
0 the
•Determine
highest multiplicity
power on xofand
zeros.
the 0 multiplicity
sign of that term. 2 (touches)
subtracting
solving.
crossing zeros1depending
from the degree.
on multiplicity and using
3 multiplicity left and
1 (crosses)
right Multiplying
hand behaviourout, as a guide.
highest power Zeros
would are:
be x0,
4 3, -4
-4 multiplicity
Degree is 4 so maximum number of turns is(crosses) 1 3
Here is the actual graph. We did pretty good. If we’d wanted to be
more accurate on how low to go before turning we could have
plugged in an x value somewhere between the zeros and found the y
value. We are not going to be picky about this though since there is a
great method in calculus for finding these maxima and minima.
What is we thought backwards? Given the
zeros and the degree can you come up with a
polynomial? Find a polynomial of degree 3 that
has zeros –1, 2 and 3.

What would the function look like in factored form to have


the zeros given above?

Multiply this out to get the polynomial. FOIL two of them


and then multiply by the third one.
Graphing Polynomial
Functions With and
Without
Multiplicities
Let’s Solve the Following:
Given the following polynomial functions, identify the x –
intercepts, y – intercept and end behaviour then graph the
functions separately.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Your Turn:
Given the following polynomial functions, identify the x –
intercepts, y – intercept and end behaviour then graph the
functions separately.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
More Practice:
Given the following polynomial functions, identify the x –
intercepts, y – intercept and end behaviour then graph the
functions separately.

1.
2.
3.
4.
Given the following polynomial functions, identify the x –
intercepts, y – intercept and end behaviour then graph the
functions separately.

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