Polynomial

Functions
Objectives:

Illustrate illustrate polynomial functions.

Understand,
describe and understand, describe and interpret the graphs polynomial functions.
interpret

Solve solve problems involving polynomial functions.

 What is a polynomial function?
A Polynomial function is a function defined by

P(x) = an xn + an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0

where n is a nonnegative integer, a0 , a1 ... an are real

numbers called coefficients, but an ≠ 0, an xn is the leading
term, an is the leading coefficient, and a0 is the constant
term.
The terms of a polynomial may be written in any order. However,
if they are written in decreasing powers of x, we say the
polynomial function is in standard form. Other ways of writing a
polynomial function are;

f(x) = an xn + an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0

y = an xn + an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0
However, polynomials may also be written in factored form and
as a product of irreducible factors like
1. f(x) = x4 + 2x3 – x2 + 14x – 56 in factored form is
y = (x2 + 7)(x – 2)(x + 4)
2. y = x4 + 2x3 – 13x2 – 10x in factored form is
y = x(x – 5)(x + 1)(x + 2)
The factored form of a polynomial function has something to do with the x-
intercepts of the graph. These are the x-values when y = 0, thus the points
where the graph intersects the x – axis can be determined. Consider the
example below to recall the relationship between factors and x – intercepts.

Example: Find the intercepts of y = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6.

Solution: To find the x – intercepts , set y = 0 by using the factored form.
y = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6
y =(x + 1)(x – 2)(x – 3) factor completely
0 = (x + 1)(x – 2)(x – 3) Equate y to 0.
x+1=0 x-2=0 x–3=0 Equate each factor to 0

x = -1 x=0 x=3 to determine x.

The x – intercepts are -1, 2 and 3. This means the graph will pass through
(-1,0), (2,0) , and (3,0)
Solution continued:
To find the y – intercept set x = 0 in the given polynomial.

y = x3 – 4x2 + x + 6 y = 03 – 4(0)2 + 0 + 6 y= 6

The y – intercept is 6. This means the graph will also pass through (0,6).

For any nth degree polynomial function, the graph is always

continuous, smooth, unbroken, with no gaps. The number of x-
intercept is at most n. The domain of the polynomial function is a set
of all real numbers while its range depends on the values of n and the
leading coefficient an.
Here are the guidelines in graphing polynomial functions.
Step 1. Use the leading coefficient test to determine the end behavior of
the graph.
To determine the end behavior of the polynomial function P(x) = a n xn +
an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0 consider the degree n and the leading
coefficient an.

Case 1: The polynomial function

whose degree is odd and whose
leading coefficient is positive.
The graph falls to the left and rises to
the right.
Here are the guidelines in graphing polynomial functions.
Step 1. Use the leading coefficient test to determine the end behavior of
the graph.
To determine the end behavior of the polynomial function P(x) = a n xn +
an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0 consider the degree n and the leading
coefficient an.

Case 2: The polynomial function

whose degree is odd and whose
leading coefficient is negative.
The graph falls to the right and
rises to the left.
Here are the guidelines in graphing polynomial functions.
Step 1. Use the leading coefficient test to determine the end behavior of
the graph.
To determine the end behavior of the polynomial function P(x) = a n xn +
an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0 consider the degree n and the leading
coefficient an.

Case 3: The polynomial function

whose degree is even and whose
leading coefficient is positive.
The graph falls to the left and
rises to the right.
Here are the guidelines in graphing polynomial functions.
Step 1. Use the leading coefficient test to determine the end behavior of
the graph.
To determine the end behavior of the polynomial function P(x) = a n xn +
an-1 xn-1 + an-2 xn-2 +… + a1 x + a0 consider the degree n and the leading
coefficient an.

Case 4: The polynomial function

whose degree is even and whose
leading coefficient is negative.
The graph falls to the left and
rises to the right.
Step 2. Find the real zeros of the polynomial function.
The real zeros of the given function can be found by using by factor
theorem, synthetic division, and Rational Zero Theorem. The zeros of
polynomial function represent the x- intercept where the graph intersect the
x – axis.
Step 3. Find the y – intercept by equating x to 0 and compute
P(0).
Step 4. Graph the polynomial function.
Plot the points on the cartesian plane and connect using the smooth curve.
Use the fact that the maximum number of turning points of the graph is n –
1 to check whether it is drawn correctly.
Example 1. Graph the polynomial function 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥3 + 3𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 3
Solution: Following the steps in graphing a polynomial function;
1.Determine the end behavior using the leading coefficient test. Since the
degree is odd (n = 3) and the leading coefficient is positive 1, the graph
falls to the left and rises to the right. (Case 1)
2.Find the real zeros by setting P(x)=0 or by the Factor Theorem.
𝑥3 + 3𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 3 = 0
(x +3)(x + 1)(x – 1) = 0 Factor.
(x +3) = 0 or (x – 1) = 0 or (x + 1) = 0 Set each factor to 0.
x=-3 x=1 x=-1 Solve for x.

The zeros of P(x) are - 3 , - 1 , and 1. Hence the x – intercepts are

(- 3,0)(-1, 0) and (1,0).
Solution continued:
3. Find the y – intercept by setting x = 0.
P(0) = (0)3 + 3(0)2 –(0) -3 = -3
Then the y- intercept is (0,-3)

4. Graph the polynomial by plotting the x

and y – intercepts. Use the fact that the
maximum number of turning points of
the graph is n – 1 . Since n=3, the
maximum number of turning points is 3
– 1 or 2 as shown at the right.
Example 2: Graph the polynomial function defined by
P(x) = x4-x3-18x2+16x+32.
Solution:
1.Determine the end behavior. Because the degree is even (n=4) and the
leading coefficient, 1, is positive, the graph rises to the left and to the
right.( Case 3)
2. Find real zeros of the function using synthetic division.
Performing the procedures in synthetic division
4 1 -1 -18 16 32
4 12 -24 -32 The zeros of P(x) are
-4 1 3 -6 -8 0 -1, 2, 4, and -4. Thus,
-4 4 8 the x – intercepts are
2 1 -1 -2 0 (-1,0), (2,0),(-4,0)
2 -2
and (4,0).
-1 1 1 0
-1
1 0
Solution continued:
3.Find the y-intercept by setting x = 0.
P(0) = (0)4 -(0)3 -18(0)2 +16(0) +32 = 32
The y – intercepts is (0, 32)

4.By plotting the x – intercepts and y – intercept on the cartesian plane the
graph of P(x) = x4 - x3 - 18x2 + 16x + 32 is shown below. Since n = 4,
the maximum number of turning points is 4 - 1 or 3.

It is also helpful to determine whether the

graph crosses or is tangent to the x –
axis at each x- intercept. This involves
the multiplicity of a zeros of a polynomial
function. Multiplicity tells how many
times a particular number is a zero or root
for the given polynomial.
Example 4: Let us consider the given function
f(x) = (x + 2)2 (x + 1)3 (x - 1)4 (x - 2)
and its graph at the right, then answer the questions that follow.

a. What are the roots or zeros of the

given function?
b. What are the roots having an odd
multiplicity?
c. What are the roots having an even
multiplicity?

The roots or zeros having the odd multiplicity of the polynomial function f(x)
= (x + 2)2 (x + 1)3 (x-1)4 (x-2) are -2, -1 and 2, then the graph shows that
the roots of even multiplicity are tangent to the x – axis. While the roots or
zeros having the even multiplicity are -2 and 1, then the graph crosses the x
– axis.
Polynomial Function Real Life Application
Population Growth.
A demographer predicts that the population, P, of a town t years from
now can be modeled by the function P(t) = 6t4 – 5t3 + 200t + 12 000. What
will the population of the town be five (5) from now?
Solution:
Since the given function is P(t) = 6t4 – 5t3 + 200t + 12 000 and t represents
the number of years then, substitute the value of t = 5. Using the remainder
theorem
P(5) = 6(5)4 – 5(5)3 + 200(5) + 12 000
P(5) = 6(625) – 5(125) + 200(5) + 12 000
P(5) = 3 750 – 625 + 1000 + 12 000
P(5) = 16 125
Then there are 16 125 population in 5 years.
Volume Problem:
A carpenter will construct a room with the length that is represented by (a +4)
meters. Its width is represented by (2a – 3 ) meters. , and its height by (3a –
10 ) meters. If the volume V(a) of the room is 80 cubic meters.
a. What polynomial function V(a) will represent the
volume of the room in standard form?
b. Find the value of a.
Solution:
Consider the volume formula, V = lhw . Let l= (a + 4 ), h = (3a – 10) and w
= (2a – 3).
a.By multiplying the expressions representing the length , the height and the
width the product is 6a3 – 5a2 -86a + 120 . Then the polynomial function that
represents the volume V(a) of the room is;
V(a) = 6a3 – 5a2 -86a + 120
Solution continued:
b. To find the value of a , use the polynomial function,
V(a) = 6a3 – 5a2 -86a + 120
80 = 6a3 – 5a2 -86a + 120 Substitute 80 for V(a)
0 = 6a3 – 5a2 -86a + 40 Subtract 80 from each side

4 6 -5 -86 40
using the synthetic division
24 76 -40
6 19 10 0

Since 4 is the zero of the polynomial function V(a) the a value is 4