Digital Lesson

Polynomial Functions
 A polynomial function is a function of the form
f ( x )  an x n  an  1 x n  1    a1 x  a0
where n is a nonnegative integer and each ai (i = 0, , n)
is a real number. The polynomial function has a leading
coefficient an and degree n.
Examples: Find the leading coefficient and degree of each
polynomial function.

Polynomial Function Leading Coefficient Degree

f ( x)  2 x 5  3 x 3  5 x  1 -2 5
f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  x  7 1 3
f ( x ) 14 14 0

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 Polynomials
•Here are some more examples of polynomials:
 Graphs of polynomial functions are continuous. That is, they
have no breaks, holes, or gaps.
f (x) = x3 – 5x2 + 4x + 4
y y y

x x x

continuous not continuous continuous

smooth not smooth
polynomial not polynomial not polynomial
Polynomial functions are also smooth with rounded turns. Graphs
with points or cusps are not graphs of polynomial functions.

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 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•However, the graph of a polynomial function is
continuous. This means that the graph has no
breaks or holes.
– The graph of a polynomial function is a
smooth curve; that is, it has no corners or
sharp points (cusps) as shown.
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior

•The end behavior of a polynomial is:

– A description of what happens as x

becomes large in the positive or negative
direction.
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior

•To describe end behavior, we use

the following notation:

–x→∞ means “x becomes large in

the positive direction”

– x → –∞ means “x becomes large in

the negative direction”
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•For example, the monomial y = x2
in the figure has the following end behavior:

– y → ∞ as x → ∞

– y → ∞ as x → –∞
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•The monomial y = x3 in the figure has the
end behavior:

–y → ∞ as x → ∞

– y → –∞ as x → –∞
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•Next, we show the four possible types
of end behavior, based on:

– The highest power.

– The sign of its coefficient.

 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•P has odd degree:
 Graphs of Polynomial Functions: End Behavior
•P has even degree:
 Polynomial functions of the form f (x) = x n, n  1 are called
power functions.
f (x) = x 4 y f (x) = x 5
y
f (x) = x2 f (x) = x3

x
x

If n is even, their graphs If n is odd, their graphs

resemble the graph of resemble the graph of
f (x) = x2. f (x) = x3.

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 Example: Sketch the graph of f (x) = – (x + 2)4 .

This is a shift of the graph of y = – x 4 two units to the left.

This, in turn, is the reflection of the graph of y = x 4 in the x-axis.
y

y = x4

f (x) = – (x + 2)4 y = – x4

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 Leading Coefficient Test
As x grows positively or negatively without bound, the value
f (x) of the polynomial function
f (x) = anxn + an – 1xn – 1 + … + a1x + a0 (an  0)
grows positively or negatively without bound depending upon
the sign of the leading coefficient an and whether the degree n
is odd ory even. y
an positive

x x

an negative
n odd n even
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 Example: Describe the right-hand and left-hand behavior
for the graph of f(x) = –2x3 + 5x2 – x + 1.

Degree 3 Odd

Leading Coefficient -2 Negative

As x   , f (x )    and as x   , f (x )  
y

f (x) = –2x3 + 5x2 – x + 1

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 A real number a is a zero of a function y = f (x)
if and only if f (a) = 0.
Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions
If y = f (x) is a polynomial function and a is a real number then
the following statements are equivalent.
1. a is a zero of f.
2. a is a solution of the polynomial equation f (x) = 0.
3. x – a is a factor of the polynomial f (x).
4. (a, 0) is an x-intercept of the graph of y = f (x).

A turning point of a graph of a function is a point at which the

graph changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa.

A polynomial function of degree n has at most n – 1 turning

points and at most n zeros.

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 Example: Find all the real zeros and turning points of the graph
of f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2.
Factor completely: f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2 = x2(x + 1)(x – 2).
The real zeros are x = –1, x = 0, and x = 2.
y

These correspond to the

Turning
x-intercepts (–1, 0), (0, 0) and (2, 0).
point
The graph shows that x
there are three turning points.
Turning point
Since the degree is four, this is
Turning point
the maximum number possible.
f (x) = x4 – x3 – 2x2

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 Repeated Zeros
If k is the largest integer for which (x – a) k is a factor of f (x)
and k > 1, then a is a repeated zero of multiplicity k.
1. If k is odd the graph of f (x) crosses the x-axis at (a, 0).
2. If k is even the graph of f (x) touches, but does not cross
through, the x-axis at (a, 0).

Example: Determine the multiplicity of the zeros

of f (x) = (x – 2)3(x +1)4. y
Zero Multiplicity Behavior
2 3 odd crosses x-axis x
at (2, 0)
–1 4 even touches x-axis
at (–1, 0)
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 Intermediate Value Theorem
• Let f be a polynomial function with real
coefficients. If f(a) and f(b) have opposite signs,
then there is at least one value c between a and b
for which f(c) = 0
Show f ( x)  x 3  2 x  5 has a real zero between 2 and 3

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 Example: Sketch the graph of f (x) = 4x2 – x4.
1. Write the polynomial function in standard form: f (x) = –x4 + 4x2
The leading coefficient is negative and the degree is even.
as x  , f (x )   
2. Find the zeros of the polynomial by factoring.
f (x) = –x4 + 4x2 = –x2(x2 – 4) = – x2(x + 2)(x –2)
Zeros: y
x = –2, 2 multiplicity 1 (–2, 0) (2, 0)
x = 0 multiplicity 2 x
(0, 0)
x-intercepts:
(–2, 0), (2, 0) crosses through
(0, 0) touches only
Example continued
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 Example continued: Sketch the graph of f (x) = 4x2 – x4.
3. Since f (–x) = 4(–x)2 – (–x)4 = 4x2 – x4 = f (x), the graph is
symmetrical about the y-axis.
4. Plot additional points and their reflections in the y-axis:
(1.5, 3.9) and (–1.5, 3.9 ), ( 0.5, 0.94 ) and (–0.5, 0.94)

5. Draw the graph. y

(–1.5, 3.9 ) (1.5, 3.9)

(– 0.5, 0.94 ) (0.5, 0.94)

x

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Graphing by hand

Step 1: Plot the x-intercepts

Step 2: End Behavior? Number of Turning Points?
Step 3: Check in Calculator!!!
Negative-odd polynomial
Example #1: of degree 3 ( -x * x * x)
Graph the function: f(x) = -(x + 4)(x + 2)(x - 3)
and identify the following.
As x  -  , f(x)   As x  +  , f(x)  
End Behavior: _________________________

3
Lowest Degree of polynomial: ______________

2
# Turning Points: _______________________

You can check on your calculator!!

x-intercepts
 Graphing with a calculator
Example #2:
Graph the function: f(x) = x4 – 4x3 – x2 + 12x – 2
and identify the following.
As x  -  , f(x)   As x  +  , f(x)   Positive-even polynomial
End Behavior: _________________________
of degree 4
Degree of polynomial:4______________

3
# Turning Points: _______________________

(0, -
y-intercept: _______ Relative max
2)
1.Plug equation into y=
Real Zeros
2.Find minimums and maximums
using your calculator

Relative minimum
Absolute minimum
 Graphing without a calculator
Example #3:
Graph the function: f(x) = x3 + 3x2 – 4x
and identify the following.
As x  -  , f(x)   As x  +  , f(x)   Positive-odd polynomial
End Behavior: _________________________
of degree 3
Degree of polynomial:3______________

2
# Turning Points: _______________________

1. Factor and solve equation to find x-intercepts

f(x)=x(x2 + 3x – 4) = x(x - 4)
(x + 1)
2. Plot the zeros. Sketch the end behaviors.
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