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3.1 Characteristics of Polynomial Functions: y - Intercept and The Constant Term

The document discusses the characteristics of polynomial functions of varying degrees. It examines linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, and quintic functions, identifying their degree, end behavior, y-intercepts, number of x-intercepts, maxima/minima, domain, range, and similarities/differences between functions of the same degree. Key characteristics identified include polynomials having a smooth, continuous graph over the domain of all real numbers, the degree determining the maximum number of x-intercepts and maxima/minima, and the leading coefficient affecting end behavior and orientation. Functions with an odd degree behave similarly to y=x or y=-x depending on the leading coefficient, while even degree functions behave like y=x

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Justine Williams
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80 views6 pages

3.1 Characteristics of Polynomial Functions: y - Intercept and The Constant Term

The document discusses the characteristics of polynomial functions of varying degrees. It examines linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, and quintic functions, identifying their degree, end behavior, y-intercepts, number of x-intercepts, maxima/minima, domain, range, and similarities/differences between functions of the same degree. Key characteristics identified include polynomials having a smooth, continuous graph over the domain of all real numbers, the degree determining the maximum number of x-intercepts and maxima/minima, and the leading coefficient affecting end behavior and orientation. Functions with an odd degree behave similarly to y=x or y=-x depending on the leading coefficient, while even degree functions behave like y=x

Uploaded by

Justine Williams
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

1 Characteristics of Polynomial Functions

Investigating the graphs of polynomial functions.

For each of the following functions, state the


i) degree of the function (the greatest power in the function)
ii) end behaviour (the behaviour of the function as x becomes very large)
iii) y – intercept and the constant term
iv) sign of the leading coefficient
v) number of x – intercepts
vi) number of maximums and minimums (peaks/valleys)
vii) domain and range (this may requiring graphing the function on your calculator)

Note also any similarities and differences between the graphs within each group.

Linear Functions Degree______

yx y  2 x y  2x  3 y  x 1

End
behaviour

y – intercept

Constant
Sign of coeff
# x - int
# max/min
Domain

Range

Similarities/differences
Quadratic Functions Degree______

y  x2 y  2 x 2 y  x2  2 y  x2  2 x  3

End
behaviour

y – intercept

Constant
Sign of coeff
# x - int
# max/min
Domain

Range

Similarities/differences

Cubic Functions Degree______

y  x3 y  .2 x 3 y   x3  x  2 y  x3  2 x 2  x  1

End
behaviour

y – intercept

Constant
Sign of coeff
# x - int
# max/min
Domain

Range

Similarities/differences
Quartic Functions Degree______

y  x4 y  .1x 4 y  x4  5x 2  4 y   4 x 4  x3  9 x 2

End
behaviour

y – intercept

Constant
Sign of coeff
# x - int
# max/min
Domain

Range

Similarities/differences

Quintic Functions Degree______

y  x5 y  .05 x 5  1 y   x 5  4 x3  x  1 y  x5  5x3  x2  4 x  1

End
behaviour
y – intercept

Constant
Sign of coeff
# x - int
# max/min
Domain

Range

Similarities/differences
What similarities are there in the graphs of polynomials with an odd degree?

What similarities are there in the graphs of polynomials with an even degree?

Definition: A polynomial function of degree n is any function of the form

f ( x)  an x n  an 1 x n1  an 2 x n 2  . . .  a1 x  a0

where
 n is a whole number
 x is the variable
 an , an 1 , an 2 , . . . a1 , a0 are real numbers. an is called the leading coefficient.

1. Identify which of the following are polynomial functions. Justify your answers.

Function Polynomial? Justification


f ( x)  2 x  3
f ( x )  5x  x 2
f ( x)  3 x 4  2 x3  .7 x 2  x  1059
f ( x)  x  3
f ( x )   74 x 5  x 4  π x3  8

Characteristics of Polynomial Functions

The graph of any polynomial function is a smooth, continuous curve. The domain of all polynomial
functions is ________________. The y-intercept is the ___________________ ____________. The
maximum number of x-intercepts is determined by the __________________ of the polynomial. The
greatest number of maxima and minima is one less than the degree. The end behaviour of the graph is
determined by the whether the degree is _________ or ________ , and also by the _________ of the
leading coefficient.The orientation of the graph is determined by the _________ of the
________________ coefficient.
Odd Degree

Positive leading coefficient Negative leading coefficient


y y

x x

Behaves like y  x Behaves like y   x

Must have at least one x-intercept, with a maximum of n -intercepts. The function does not have an
overall maximum or minimum. Domain and the range is the Re als .

Even Degree

Positive leading coefficient Negative leading coefficient


y y

x x

Behaves like y  x 2 Behaves like y   x 2

May have between zero and n x-intercepts. The function must have either an overall maximum or
minimum. Domain is the Re als and the range is determined by the maximum or minimum value.
2. What might you expect the degree of the 3. Predict what you would expect the graph of
following function to be? What would you expect y   2 x 6  3x 5  7 x 3  x  9
the sign of the leading coefficient to be? to probably look like.
y

4. An open box is to be made from a piece of paper by


cutting equal corners from each of the corners. The
dimensions of the paper are 20 cm by 30 cm. If x represents
the length of the square, in centimetres, then the volume can
be represented with the function V  x   4 x 3  100 x 3  600 x .
Make a sketch of what this function will look like, and then
graph using your calculator. What restrictions are there on
the domain of this function?

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