MA112 Precalculus Algebra Sri Chilukuri
Section Chapter 3
Date Section 3.1
Activity 13 Polynomial Functions and Models
Polynomial Function
A polynomial function P is given by
Where the coefficients an, an - 1, …, a1, a0 are real numbers and the exponents n, n-1, n-2, n-3…….. are
whole numbers ( not fractions or negative numbers.
The graph of every polynomial function is both
smooth and continuous. By _____________we
mean that the graph contains no sharp corners or
cusps; by __________________we mean that the
graph has no gaps or holes and can be drawn
without lifting your pencil from the paper. See
Figures (a) and (b).
The domain of a polynomial function is
___________________________
The first nonzero coefficient ___________is called
the leading coefficient
The last term ________ is called the constant term
The degree of the polynomial function is
______________ (Should be whole number)
The term ____________is called the leading term
A polynomial function is in _____________________
if the polynomial that defines the function is written in
descending order of degree.
Example:
Example 1
Determine whether the following function is a polynomial. If it is a polynomial function state, the following and if
it is not tell why not. Write the polynomial in standard form. Then Identify the leading term and constant term
6−x
4
1
i) gx= ii) gx=2− 3
5 x
a) It’s a Polynomial: _________________ a) It’s a Polynomial: _________________
Degree of Polynomial Degree of Polynomial
It’s not polynomial : Reason It’s not polynomial : Reason
_______________________________ _______________________________
b)Polynomial in standard form is b)Polynomial in standard form is
___________________________ ___________________________
c) Leading Term : _______________________ c) Leading Term : _______________________
d) Leading Coefficient: _________________ d) Leading Coefficient: _________________
e) Constant Term: ________________ e) Constant Term: ________________
Properties
f ( x) xn ,
n is an Even Integer n is an odd Integer
1. f is an even function, so its graph is 1. f is an odd function, so its graph is symmetric
symmetric with respect to the ________ with respect to the _________
2. The domain is the set of all ____________ 2. The domain and the range are the set of all
The range is the set of _____________________
___________________ 3. The graph always contains the points
3. The graph always contains the points (−1, 1), (−1, −1), (0, 0), and (1, 1).
(0, 0), and (1, 1). 4. As the exponent n increases in magnitude,
4. As the exponent n increases in magnitude, the graph is steeper when x < −1 or x > 1, but
the graph is steeper when x < −1 or x > 1; but for x near the origin, the graph tends to flatten
for x near the origin, the graph tends to flatten out and lie closer to the x-axis.
out and lie closer to the x-axis.
The Leading-Term Test
Example 2
Example3:
Finding Zeros of Factored Polynomial Functions
If c is a real zero of a function (that is, f (c) = 0), then (c, 0) is an x-intercept of the graph of the function.
Number of Zeros
If P(x) is a polynomial function of degree n, the graph of the function has:
at most _________ real zeros, and thus at most ________x-intercepts;
at most __________ turning points.
(Turning points on a graph, also called relative maxima and minima, occur when the function changes from
decreasing to increasing or from increasing to decreasing.)
Multiplicity
If (x c)k, k 1, is a factor of a polynomial function P(x) and (x c)k + 1 is not a factor, then ________ is called a
zero of multiplicity k of f.*
If
k is odd, then the graph ______________ the x-axis at (c, 0);
k is even, then the graph is __________________ or __________the x-axis at (c, 0)
Example 4:
a) Form a polynomial whose zeros and Form a polynomial whose zeros and degree are
degree are given given
Zeros : - 5, -3, 3, 4 ; Degree 4 Zeros : -2 multiplicity 1; -3 multiplicity 2 ;
Degree 3
Steps to analyzing Graph a Polynomial Function
1. Use the leading-term test to determine the end behavior.
2. Find the zeros of the function by solving f (x) = 0. Note any real zeros are the first coordinates of
the x-intercepts.
3 Find multiplicity of the zeros. Use the information to determine whether the graph crosses or
touches the x-axis at each x- intercept.
4. Determine the maximum number of turning points on the graph of the functions.
5.Use the x-intercepts (zeros) to divide the x-axis into intervals and choose a test point in each
interval to determine the sign of all function values in that interval.
6.Find f (0). This gives the y-intercept of the function.
7. Use the information in steps 1 to 6 to draw a complete graph of the function. Find additional points
on the graph on each side of the x- axis
Example 5:
Practice Example
Examples of polynomial graphs Examples of non- polynomial graphs
