Polynomial Function Graphing

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 2x x
4
g x 2 x 0
h x 2 x 1
3
2
F x x
x
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.
A polynomial of degree 0.
Not a polynomial because of the
square root since the power is NOT
1
an integer
x x2
Not a polynomial because of the x in

the denominator since the power is
1
1
negative
Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.

No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn
without lifting pencil from paper
This IS the graph

of a polynomial
This IS NOT the graph

of a polynomial
Lets look at the graph of

even integer.
g x x4
f x x
Notice each graph

looks similar to x2
but is wider and
flatter near the
origin between 1
and 1
f x x
where n is an
h x x 6
and grows
steeper on either
side
The higher the
power, the flatter
and steeper
Lets look at the graph of

odd integer.
Notice each graph
looks similar to x3
but is wider and
flatter near the
origin between 1
and 1
f x x
g x x5
f x x3
where n is an
and grows
steeper on
either side
h x x 7
The higher the

power, the flatter
and steeper
Lets graph
f x x 2
Reflects about
the x-axis
Looks like x2
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
its not? Well learn some
techniques to help us
determine what the graph
looks like in the next slides.
Translates up 2
LEFT
and
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
behaviour: rises
right hand
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
left hand
behaviour: falls
right hand
behaviour: rises
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).
Lets determine left and right hand behaviour for the
graph of the function:
doesnt mean it has that many
4
3 turning2points but thats the
f x x 3 x most
15 xit can
19
x
30
have
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.
The graph can
have at most 3
turning points
How do we
determine
what it looks
like near the
middle?
x 23xx 315
xx 119 xx 30
0f x x
5
4
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
To find the x intercept we put 0 in for y.

Finally we need a smooth
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 thats okay)
(0,30)
xx 119 xx 30
0f x x x 23xx 315
5
4
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.
Can you find the zeros
of the polynomial?
g ( x) x 1 x 2 x 3
3
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
zeros and their
multiplicities?
-2 is a zero of multiplicity 2
3 is a zero of multiplicity 1
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). Lets try to graph:
What would the left and
2
f x x 1 x 2
right hand behavior be?
You dont 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
Find the zeros and
at 1)
their multiplicity
-2 of mult. 2
Find where the graph is
(so touches at 2)
positive and where it is
negative
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.
Lets graph:
f x x x 3 x 4
2
Determine
left
and right
hand
behavior
by
looking
atand
Find
Determine
and
plot
y
maximum
intercept
number
by
putting
of
0
turns
in
for
in
x
graph
by
Find
Join
the
the
points
zeros
(x
together
intercepts)
in
a
smooth
by
setting
curve
polynomial
touching
=
or
0
Determine
multiplicity
of xzeros.
0sign
multiplicity
2 (touches)
the
highest
power
on
and
the
of
that
term.
subtracting
the degree.
solving.
crossing
zeros1depending
on multiplicity
and using
left and
2from
2
3
multiplicity
1
(crosses)
0behaviour
x out,
x as
3
x
4
Zeros
are:
0,
4 3, -4
right Multiplying
hand
a
guide.
highest
power
would
be
x
-4 multiplicity
Degree is 4 so maximum number
of turns1is(crosses)
3
f 0 0 0 3 0 4 0
Here is the actual graph. We did pretty good. If wed 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.
What if we thought backwards? Given the

zeros and the degree can you come up with a
polynomial? Find a polynomial of degree 3
that has zeros 1, 2 and 3.
What would the function look like in factored form to have
the zeros given above?
f x x 1 x 2 x 3
Multiply this out to get the polynomial. FOIL two of them

and then multiply by the third one.
f x x 4x x 6
3

Polynomial Function Graphing

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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:

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest

Determine which of the following are polynomial

We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

Not a polynomial because of the x in

Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.

This IS the graph

This IS NOT the graph

Lets look at the graph of

Notice each graph

Lets look at the graph of

The higher the

So as long as the function

HAND BEHAVIOUR OF A GRAPH

The degree of the polynomial along with the sign of the

Even degree polynomials rise on both the left and

Even degree polynomials fall on both the left and

Odd degree polynomials fall on the left and rise on

Odd degree polynomials rise on the left and fall on

A polynomial of degree n can have at most n-1 turning

degree is 4 which is even and the coefficient is positive so the

x and y intercepts would be useful and we know how

To find the x intercept we put 0 in for y.

We found the x intercept by putting 0 in for f(x) or y (they

There are repeated factors. (x-1) is to the 3rd power so it

So knowing the zeros of a polynomial we can plot them on

Steps for Graphing a Polynomial

Here is the actual graph. We did pretty good. If wed wanted to be

What if we thought backwards? Given the

Multiply this out to get the polynomial. FOIL two of them

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