Polynomial Functions

Polynomial Function: A function of terms where all exponents are whole numbers,
and all coefficients are real numbers.
f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + an-2xn-2 + an-3xn-3 + . . . + a1x + a0
anxn What is the difference in
meaning of the two n values?

Leading coefficient of the polynomial:

Degree of the polynomial:
Degree Name Example in Standard
Form
0 constant f(x) = 17
1 linear f(x) = x – 9
2 quadratic f(x) = x2 + 5x – 13
3 cubic f(x) = x3 – 4x2 + 3x f(x) = x(x – 3)(x – 1)
4 quartic f(x) = 8x4 + 3x – 1
5 quintic f(x) = – x5 – 2x2 + 3x + 7
6 sextic f(x) = 25x6 – 9x2 f(x) = x2(5x2 – 3) (5x2 + 3)
7 septic f(x) = 43x7
8 octic
9 nonic
10 decic
n-th n-th degree
polynomial

Determine if each of the following is a polynomial. If it is, then, write it in standard

form, identify the degree and the leading coefficient.
1. f(x) = x3 – 6x + 3x4 + 5x2 3. h(x) = x2 – 4x – 7x3

2. g(x) = – x2 + 7x–1 + 4x 4. f(x) = 2x – 9x + 1

End Behavior of the Graph of a Polynomial: Includes both ends, left and right.

Graph f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x3 Graph f(x) = –x2 and g(x) = –x3

What can you hypothesize about degrees of a polynomial based on your graphs?

Degree Leading End Behavior

Coefficient
as x → − ∞, f(x) → + ∞
positive
as x → + ∞, f(x) → + ∞
even
as x → − ∞, f(x) → − ∞
negative
as x → + ∞, f(x) → − ∞
as x → − ∞, f(x) → − ∞
positive
as x → + ∞, f(x) → + ∞
odd
as x → − ∞, f(x) → + ∞
negative
as x → + ∞, f(x) → − ∞

For each graph document the following: Whether the degree is even or odd, the
leading coefficient is positive or negative, the intervals where f(x) is increasing and
decreasing, and the intervals where f(x) > 0 and where f(x) < 0.
5. . 6. .
Degree:__________ Degree:__________
Ld. Co. :__________ Ld. Co. :__________
f(x) incr:__________ f(x) incr:__________
f(x) decr:_________ f(x) decr:_________
f(x) < 0 :_________ f(x) < 0 :_________
f(x) > 0 :__________ f(x) > 0 :__________

Assignment: page 162 #4-8 even, 12-16 even, 21, 22, 34-38 even.
Assignment: page 153 #33-39 odd, 4.1 Practice B WS #1-7
Adding and Subtracting Multiplying Polynomials
↑Combine like terms↑ ↑Distribute all terms↑

Simplify each of the following:

7. (2x3 + x2 – 3x + 4) + (x3 + 7x2 – 2) 10. (–4y3 + 2y2 – y + 2) + (y2 – 6y + 9)

8. (5x3 – 4x2 – 3x + 1) – (3x3 + 5x2 – x + 8) 11. (7x2 – 4x) – (5x2 – x + 3)

9. (2x2 – 3x + 5) (x – 2) 12. (x + 2)(x – 1)(x – 3)

Special Products of Polynomials

13. (a + b)(a – b) What do you notice?

What do you wonder?

14. (a + b)2 16. (a – b)2

How about now?

15. (a + b)3 17. (a – b)3

 Special Products
(a + b)(a – b) a2 – b2 a2 – b2
(a + b)2 a2 + 2ab + b2 a2 + 2ab + b2
(a – b)2 a2 – 2ab + b2 a2 – 2ab + b2
(a + b)3 (a + b)(a2 + 2ab + b2) a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3
(a – b)3 (a – b)(a2 – 2ab + b2) a3 – 3a2b + 3ab2 – b3
(a + b)4
Do you see the pattern?
(a – b)4

Binomial Expansion and Pascal’s Triangle

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Expand each of the expressions below.

18. (2x + 7)(2x – 7) 20. (ab + 2)3

19. (4y + 3)2 21. (3x2 – 5y)4

Assignment: page 170 #4-22 even, 28, 33, 34-42 even, 56, 64
 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑
Dividing Polynomials = 𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 quotient
𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟
divisor dividend

Remember long division …. The same rules can be applied to polynomial division.

56,203,417
= 423 56,203,417
623

Divide each of the following:

𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 −19𝑥+9 6𝑥 3 +2𝑥2 +11𝑥−10
22. 23.
𝑥+3 3𝑥−2

) )

12𝑥 3 −19𝑥2 −25𝑥−10

24.
4𝑥+3

)
Synthetic Division and Factoring: Can only be used when the divisor is (x – a)
a coefficients of the dividend with
necessary placeholders of 0

Coefficients of the quotient + any remainder

Use synthetic division to determine the quotient.
𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 −19𝑥+9
25.
𝑥+3

Now, you can factor the result if

the divisor was a factor. How can
you tell?

What if the dividend was 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 9?

𝑥 3 −2𝑥+3 𝑥 4 −3𝑥 2 +5
26. 27.
𝑥−2 𝑥−1

Note: (x – h) vertex form (x – p)(x – q) factored form (x – a) generic form

Assignment: Polynomial Division WS

Methods for solving a quadratic equation:

Method Example Reason to Use

Greatest Common Always check 1st – may be all
Factor there is
Difference of a4x6 – b2y4 all even
Squares exponents & subtraction
Group
Split the Middle
Term
Quadratic Formula

Greatest Common Factor

28. 3x3y – 6x2y2 29. –2x3 – 2x2 + 2x

Difference of Squares
30. 25x4 – 9y2 31. 2(x+1)2 – 32

Grouping
32. 2x3 – 8x2 – 3x +12 33. x4 – 5x3 – 2x2 + 10x

Specific to factoring quadratics expressions

Leading coefficient of 1
34. x2 – 2x – 35 35. – 3x2 + 33x – 90
Split the Middle Term or the a·c Method (Specific to the quadratic form of an
expression)
36. 12x2 + 11x – 15

Determine two factors of the 1st and

3rd term that sum equal the 2nd term.
Rewrite bx (using the two factors
above)
Factor by grouping

GCF (of each group forms the first

factor and the remaining group forms
the second factor)
37. 6x2 + 19x +10 38. 3x2 – 16x +13

Quadratic Form
ax2 + bx + c
ax10 + bx5 + c
ax24 + bx12 + c
ax18 + bx9 + c

39. 3p8 + 15p5 + 18p2

 More Factoring…day 2

Remember: (a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3 based on Pascal’s Triangle (A binomial

cubed, not two perfect cubes.)

Sum or Difference of Cubes (two perfect cubes)

a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2) a3 – b3 = a – b) (a2 + ab + b2)

40. 8x3 – y3 41. 16x5 – 54x2

Completing the Square with xn + c to calculate b-term

1st and 3rd terms are perfect squares 42. x4 – x2 + 16

and the exponent of 2nd term must
be ½ the exponent of the 1st term.
Calculate the bx term. 2√𝑥 𝑛 𝑐 , then x4 ± 2√16𝑥 4 + 16 – x2 ± 2√16𝑥 4
both add & subtract it. x4 ± 8x2 + 16 – x2 ± 8x2

Check if you have a perfect square x4 + 8x2 + 16 – x2 – 8x2 x4 – 8x2 + 16 – x2 + 8x2

on the far right using a specific sign Which option?
to determine where to use +/-.

43. x4 + 5x2 + 9
Additional Examples (as needed)

44. x4 + 11x2 + 36 50. 5x2 – 125y4

45. x2 + 6x + 9 – y2 51. x4y2 – x2y8

46. 3x4 – 81x 52. 7a2x – 6a2 – 7x + 6

47. 343 – 7(x + 3)2 53. x4 – 10x2 + 9

48. x4 – 9x2 – 10 54. 9x2 – 56x + 12

49. 16x4 – 81

Assignment: page 184 #6-12 even, 24-38 even, 57, 59, 60, 62 – 64, 73 (tonight)
Assignment: More Factoring WS (next day)
Assignment: Factoring Review WS (as needed)
Assignment: 4.1-4.4 Quiz Review WS (day after next)
Assignment: 4.1 – 4.4 Quiz Extra Practice (optional)
Modelling with Quadratics

Assignment: 4.1 – 4.4 REVIEW

Quiz

Remainder Theorem If a polynomial, P(x) ÷ ( x – k ), then the

remainder is P(k).

55. g(x) = 2x3 + 3x – 5 Determine g(2)

56. f(x) = 3x4 – 5x3 + 2x – 1 Determine f(– 1)

Factor Theorem A polynomial, P(x), has a factor ( x – k ) iff P(k) = 0.

57. Is (x – 3) a factor of f(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 5x + 6 ? If yes, what are the other

factors?
 58. Is (x + 3) a factor of h(x) = 2x4 + 10x3 + 11x2 – x + 6 ? If yes, what are the
other factors?

59. Is (x – 4) a factor of f(x) = 2x2 + 5x – 12 ? If yes, what are the other factors?

60. Is (x + 2) a factor of h(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 5x + 6 ? If yes, what are the other

factors?

61. Is (x – 2) a factor of h(x) = x4 – 2x3 + x – 2 ? If yes, what are the other

factors?

Rational Root Theorem The possible rational roots of a polynomial

function, P(x), must be in the form p/q where p is
a factor of the constant term and q is a factor of
the leading coefficient. (x – root) = factor.

Why are these called Rational Roots?

List all the possible rational roots of each polynomial and then factor each
polynomial completely.

62. f(x) = 3x3 – 2x2 – 7x – 2

63. g(x) = x3 + x2 – 14x – 24

64. f(x) = x3 + 9x2 +24x + 20

65. f(x) = 4x3 – 3x2 – 36x + 27

Determine the Zeros of Higher Degree Polynomials

Zero, Root, Solution The value of x such that P(x) = 0. This contrasts
with the factor, which is written as
(x – zero or root)

The number of roots in an nth degree polynomial is defined by:

To determine all zeros of each polynomial, including complex and repeated roots,
Factor
Set

Determine all zeros of each polynomial.

66. P(x) = (x – 6)2 (x+1) (x – 4) (x2 + 1)

67. G(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 8x + 16

68. F(x) = x3 – 4x2 + 2x + 7

69. P(x) = 2x3 – 5x2 – 4x + 3

What do you notice about complex roots? Why do you think that occurs?
Write a rational equation with the specified roots.
70. x = 2 + i, 2 – i 72. x = 5, x = 3 + 2√7

71. x = 3, x = 4i 73. x = 0, x = 1 – 8i√2 , x = –6, x = –3i

Transformations

Remember: f(x) = x3 g(x) = x4

Show on a graphing calculator?

Vertical Stretch / Shrink: a · f(x)

Reflection: f(– x) → y-axis
– f(x) → x-axis
Horizontal Stretch/Shrink: f(ax)

Horizontal Translation: f(x – h)

Vertical Translation: f(x) + k

Describe each translation and graph.
74. f(x) = x3 → g(x) = (x – 3)3 – 1 76. f(x) = x4 → g(x) = (½x)4 – 1

75. f(x) = x4 → g(x) = – x4 + 2 77. f(x) = x3 → g(x) = (–2x)3

Write a rule for g(x) given f(x).

78. f(x) = x5 – 2x2 → 80. f(x) = x4 – 3x + 2 →

vertical shrink by ½ horizontal stretch by 2
translation four units down. translation 3 units down
reflection in the x-axis.

79. f(x) = x3 + 6x → 81. f(x) = 2x3 – x2 + 4x – 1 →

reflection in the x-axis reflection in the x-axis
translation 2 units up. vertical stretch by 2
translation up by 5
shift left by 3.

Assignment page 209

Interactive experience with the Graphing Polynomial Lab.

Graphing Polynomials
What do we need to determine or calculate?

1. Factor

2. Plot x-intercepts

3. Plot points between

intercepts
4. Determine end-behavior

5. Graph

82. y = ¼ (x – 2) (x+3)2

83. y = – ½ (x + 1) (x – 4) (x – 2)
Local Relative Maximum or Minimum

Turning Points or Vertices

Maximum number of turning points or vertices?

Even/Odd Functions

Even Function: Odd Function:

Define each function as even, odd, or neither.

84. f(x) = x3 – 12x 85. f(x) = x4 + x2 – 7 86. f(x) = x5 + 9

Assignment: page 216

Graphing Higher Degree Polynomials

• Maximum number of turns or vertices:

• Degree of polynomial determines:

Leading End Behavior

Degree
Coefficient

Positive
Even
Negative

Positive
Odd
Negative

• Determine all zeros.

• Determine the y-intercept.

87. Graph the function: f(x) = x3 – x2 – 4x + 4

Double Root

Triple Root

Graph each of the following functions.

88. f(x) = x4 + x3 – 5x2 + x – 6

89. p(x) = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6

90. p(x) = x4 – x3 – 11x2 + 9 x+ 18

Writing Equations of Polynomial Graphs

91. Determine the equation of: 93. Determine the equation of:

92. Determine the equation of: 94. Determine the equation of:

Assignment : More Graphing Polynomials WS

End of Chapter