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

f x   an x  an 1 x
n n 1
   a1 x  ao

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.
f x   2 x  x
4
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

g x   2 x 0 A polynomial of degree 0.

Not a polynomial because of the

h x   2 x  1
square root since the power is NOT
an integer 1
x  x2
F x    x
3 2 Not a polynomial because of the x in
the denominator since the power is
x 1 1
negative
x
x
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.

f x  14x A polynomial of degree 1.

f x   5 x  4 2 x  x
Not a polynomial because
3 of the square root since
the power is NOT an
integer

g x   3  4  6
1 1 3
2 x 3x 4x

g x    A polynomial of degree 0.
 Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.

No sharp corners 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 f x   x n
where n is an
even integer.
g x   x 4 hx   x 6

and grows
f x   x 2
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 f x   x n
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 g x   x 5
origin between –1
hx   x 7
and 1

f x   x 3
The higher the
power, the flatter
and steeper
Let’s graph f x    x  2
4
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

f x  x  3x most
4
 19
15xit can x
have

3 turning2points but that’s the
30
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.

How do we
The graph can
determine
have at most 3
what it looks
turning points
like near the
middle?
 0f x x 
x 23xx 315
4 3
xx 119xx 30
2
5
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.

f 0  0  30  150  190  30  30

4 3 2

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)
 f  x 
  x 
4
3 
x  3
15 x 
0  x  2 x  3 x 1 x  5
19 x2
 
30 
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.

g ( x)  x  1 x  2  x  3
Can you find the zeros 3 2
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:

f x   x  1x  2
2 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: f x   x x  3x  4
2

•Determine
•Find
•Determine
and plot left
y and right
maximum
intercept hand
number
by behavior
putting
of turns
0 in for
inby
x looking
graph by atand
•Find
•Join the
the
•Determine points
zeros (x
together
intercepts)
multiplicity in a smooth
by
of xzeros. setting
0signcurve
polynomial
multiplicitytouching = or
0
2 (touches)
f 0  0 0  30  4  0
the highest
subtracting power on and the of that term.
zeros1depending
2from the degree.
solving.
crossing
 x out,
right Multiplying
hand
2
0behaviour x as3 a
x
highest

on multiplicity
4
guide.
3
power Zeros
would
and using
multiplicity
are:
be
1
x0,
left and
(crosses)
4 3, -4
Degree is 4 so maximum number -4 multiplicity
of turns1is(crosses)
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.