Solving Problems Involving Polynomial Functions
Example 1: A cube has a capacity of 125 cm3. What is the length of its edge?
Solution:
𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 𝑠3 Use the appropriate formula.
125 𝑐𝑚3 = 𝑠3 Substitute the given.
3 3
√125 𝑐𝑚3 = √𝑠3 Extract the cube roots.
5 𝑐𝑚 = 𝑠 Simplify and write the
final answer.
𝑠 = 5 𝑐𝑚
Therefore, the length of the edge of the cube is 𝟓 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔.
Example 2: Find the polynomial function which represent the volume of a
rectangular prism and with the zeros {3, −3, 1}.
Solution: To find the function representing the volume of the prism, we use
the formula 𝑉𝑟. 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑚 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ. The zeros shall be transformed as factors and these
factors will be substituted as the length, width, and height of the prism.
Follow the steps below.
𝑉𝑟. 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑚 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ Use the appropriate formula.
𝑥 = 3 → 𝒙 − 𝟑; 𝑥 = −3 → 𝒙 + 𝟑; 𝑥 = 1 → 𝒙 − 𝟏 Write the zeros as factors.
= (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1) Substitute the given.
= (𝑥2 − 9)(𝑥 − 1) Multiply the binomials.
𝑉𝑟.𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑚 = 𝑥3 − 𝑥2 − 9𝑥 + 9 Simplify.
Therefore, the polynomial function that represents the volume of
the rectangular prism is 𝑽(𝒙) = (𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗𝒙 + 𝟗) 𝒄𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒄 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔.
Example 3: 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 two years from now?
Solution: The given function that modeled the population of the town shall
be evaluated at 𝑡 = 2. Follow the steps below.
𝑃(𝑡) = 6𝑡4 − 5𝑡3 + 200𝑡 + 12,000 Given Function
𝑃(2) = 6(2)4 − 5(2)3 + 200(2) + 12,000 Evaluate 𝑃(𝑡) when 𝑡 = 2..
= 6(16) − 5(8) + 200(2) + 12,000 Simplify.
= 96 − 40 + 400 + 12,000 Simplify.
.
𝑃(2) = 12,456
Therefore, in two years, the town will be having a population of 𝟏𝟐, 𝟒𝟓𝟔
𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆.
Example 4: The resulting weight, 𝑤, of a patient who has been sick for
𝑛 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 can be modelled by the equation 𝑤(𝑛) = (0.1𝑛3 − 0.6𝑛2 + 110) 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠.
If a 125-𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 person has been ill for a week, how much weight did he lost?
𝑤(𝑛) = 0.1𝑛3 − 0.6𝑛2 + 110 Given Function
𝑤(7) = 0.1(7)3 − 0.6(7)2 + 110 Evaluate 𝑤(𝑛) when 𝑛 = 7.
= 0.1(343) − 0.6(49) + 110 Simplify.
= 34.3 − 29.4 + 110 Simplify.
.
𝑤(7) = 114.9 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 – 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 Formula
= 125 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 − 114.9 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 Substitute the weights.
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 10.1 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 Simplify.
Therefore, the person has lost 𝟏𝟎. 𝟏 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 for a week.
What’s More!
Read and analyze each situation very carefully. Answer the items as
required.
1. The area of a rotonda is 21.98 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡. What is the length of its
diameter?
Hints: 𝐴𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 = 𝜋𝑟2, 2𝑟 = 𝑑, 𝜋 = 3.14
2. Find the volume of a Rubik’s cube if one of its sides measure
(𝑥 + 4) 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠.
Hint: 𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 𝑠3
3. Write the polynomial function, 𝑃(𝑥), with the zeros 2 of multiplicity
three and −1.
Hint: Write the zeros as factors.
4. A farmer has a poultry farm whose area is expressed by the
polynomial function (𝑥) = (8𝑥2 + 97𝑥 + 12) 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠. What is
the actual land area of the poultry farm if 𝑥 = 3 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠?
Hint: Evaluate the function for the given length.
5. Annie went to the grocery and bought items which cost
𝐶(𝑥) = 5𝑥4 + 2𝑥3 + 4𝑥 + 18 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠. If x is 4.00 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠, how much did
Annie pay?
Hint: Evaluate the function for the given amount.
6. A car manufacturer determines that the company’s profit, P, can
be modeled by the function 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 + 2𝑥 – 3, where 𝑥 represents
the number of cars sold. What is the profit when 𝑥 = 200?
Hint: Evaluate the function for the given number of cars sold.
Answer Key
What I Know
1. A 6. B 11. C
2. A 7. C 12. C
3. B 8. C 13. D
4. A 9. B 14. A
5. A 10. A 15. A
What’s New
1. 16 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
2. 16 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
3. (4𝑥3 − 16𝑥2 + 16𝑥) 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
What’s More
1. 5.29 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 4. 𝐴(3) = 375 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
2. (𝑥3 + 12𝑥2 + 48𝑥 + 64) 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 5. 𝐶(4) = 1,442.00 𝑃𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
3. 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 − 5𝑥3 + 6𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 8 6. 𝑃(200) = 1,600,000,397 𝑃𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
Solutions:
1. 5.29 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 4. 𝐴(3) = 375 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐴𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 = 𝜋𝑟2 𝐴(𝑥) = (8𝑥2 + 97𝑥 + 12) 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
21.98 = 3.14𝑟2 𝐴(3) = (8(3)2 + 97(3) + 12) 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
2
21.98 3.14𝑟 𝐴(3) = 375 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
3.14 = 3.14
√𝑟2 = √7
𝑟 = 2.6458 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝑑 = 2𝑟 = 2(2.6458)
𝑑 = 5.29 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
2. (𝑥3 + 12𝑥2 + 48𝑥 + 64) 𝑐𝑢. 𝑚𝑚 5. 𝐶(4) = 1,442.00 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 𝑠3 𝐶(𝑥) = 5𝑥4 + 2𝑥3 + 4𝑥 + 18
= (𝑥 + 4)3 𝐶(4) = 5(4)4 + 2(4)3 + 4(4) + 18
= (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 4) 𝐶(4) = 1,442.00 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
𝑉𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑒 = (𝑥3 + 12𝑥2 + 48𝑥 + 64) 𝑐𝑢. 𝑚𝑚
3. 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 − 5𝑥3 + 6𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 8 6. 𝑃(200) = 1,600,000,397 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 3 → (𝑥 − 2), (𝑥 − 2), (𝑥 − 2) 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 + 2𝑥 − 3
𝑥 = −1 → 𝑥 + 1 𝑃(200) = 2004 + 2(200) − 3
𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) 𝑃(200) = 1,600,000,397 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
= (𝑥3 − 6𝑥2 + 12𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 + 1)
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 − 5𝑥3 + 6𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 8
What I Can Do
1. 𝑃(10) = 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑃𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
2. The company would have a profit of 2,000,000 𝑃𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠.
3. The company will not have a revenue. Instead, it will lose
4,375,000 𝑃𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠.
4. If I were the manager of the company, I would maintain 22
𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠
to have the maximum profit of 2,112,000 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠.
Assessment
1. D 6. A 11. A
2. B 7. B 12. C
3. C 8. A 13. B
4. A 9. C 14. A
5. C 10. C 15. B
Additional Activity
1. a. 𝐶(50) = 165,000 2. a. 𝑅(7) = 15,096 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
b. 𝐶(70) = 283,000 b. 𝑅(10) = 34,770 𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑠
