Scribd
Upload
262 views2 pages

3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions

Uploaded by

Irina Stefania
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
262 views2 pages

3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions

Uploaded by

Irina Stefania
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

MHF4U - Advanced Functions

3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions

A Polynomial Functions Ex 1. Verify if the following expressions are or not


polynomial functions.
A polynomial function y  f (x) is defined by:
a) f ( x)  2 x 3  2 x 2
n 1
f ( x)  a n x  a n1 x
n
 ... a 2 x  a1 x  a 0
2

where: b) f ( x)  2 x  x 2
 a n , a n1 ,...,a 2 , a1 , a0 are real numbers called the
coefficients of the polynomial function
 a n is called leading coefficient 1
c) f ( x)  x 2 
 n
a n x is called leading term x
 a 0 is called the constant term
 n is a non-negative integer that gives the degree
d) f ( x)  ( x  1)( x  2) 2
of the polynomial function

Note. The degree of the polynomial function n is the


largest exponent of x

B Order Ex 2. Consider f ( x)  x  2 x 3  4 x 2  3  x 4

The terms of a polynomial function can be written in


a) Is this function polynomial? If yes, find the degree,
any order because the addition operation is a
the leading term, the leading coefficient, and the
commutative operation.
constant term

b) write the polynomial function in order of increasing


powers of the variable x

c) write the polynomial function in order of decreasing


powers of the variable x

C Specific Polynomials Ex 3. Identify each polynomial function as constant,


linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, or quintic.
If n  0 , f ( x)  a0 is called constant function.
If n  1 , f ( x)  a1 x  a0 is called linear function. a) f ( x)  2

If n  2 , f ( x)  a 2 x 2  a1 x  a0 is called quadratic
b) f ( x)   x 2  3
function.
If n  3 , f ( x)  a3 x 3  a 2 x 2  a1 x  a0 is called cubic
c) f ( x)  2 x 3  3x 2  x
function.

Note. For n  4 we have the quartic function and for d) f ( x)  2  3x


n  5 we have the quintic function.
e) f ( x)  x 5  x 3

f) f ( x)  1  x 2  x 4  x

3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions


© 2018 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 2
MHF4U - Advanced Functions

D Operations with polynomial functions Ex 4. Consider two polynomial functions


f ( x)  6 x  3x 2 and g ( x)  x  2 . Do the required
All the four operations (addition, subtraction,
operations:
multiplication, and division) are defined for polynomial
functions.
a) f ( x)  g ( x)

b) f ( x)  g ( x)

c) f ( x) g ( x)

d) f ( x) / g ( x)

E y-intercept Ex 5. Find the y-intercept for each polynomial function.

The y-intercept of a polynomial function is equal with a) f ( x)  2


the constant term y  int  f (0)  a0
b) f ( x)   x 2  3
c) f ( x)  2 x 3  3x 2  x
d) f ( x)  ( x 2  1)( x  2)
e) f ( x)  ( x3  2)3
f) f ( x)  2( x  3) 2 ( x  1)5

F Finite Differences Ex 6. Use the information provided bellow and the finite
differences method to find the degree of the polynomial
The nth finite differences of a polynomial function of function and the leading coefficient.
degree n are constant.
This constant c is related to a n and n by: x y 1 y 2 y 3 y 4 y 5 y
-4 -476
c  n!an
-3 -134
where n! ( n factorial) is defined by
-2 -10

n! 1 2  3  ... (n  1)  n
-1 16

Note: Use “following # minus preceding #” rule to find 0 16


the differences:
1 14

a
2 -14
ba
b 3 -140

cb
4 -484
c

Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 124-126


Homework: Nelson Textbook, Page 127: #1, 2, 5
3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions
© 2018 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 2

You might also like