Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

First Name: ___________________ Last Name: _________________ Student ID: ________

Polynomial Functions

Polynomial Function
Polynomial functions are functions that have this form:

➢ The value of n must be a ______________________

➢ The ________________________ are 𝒂𝒏 , 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 , … , 𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟎 . These are real number.

➢ The ___________________ of the polynomial function is the highest value for n where an is
not equal to 0.

➢ 𝒂𝒏 is called ___________________ and 𝒂𝒏 𝒙𝒏 is called ___________________________.

Example 1: Establish which of the following functions are polynomial functions. Justify your answer.
If it is polynomial, please identify the degree.
3
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 8 d. ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 2
2
8 8
b. 𝑦 = −4𝑥 2016 − √5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2 e. 𝑦 = 2 √𝑥 + 𝑥 5
c. 𝑔(𝑥) = 8(2𝑥 + 7)3 − 3 f. 𝑥 = 𝑦 4

Power Functions
A power function is a polynomial of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 , where n is a whole number.

Even Degree Power Functions

General Shape End Behaviour: ___________________________________

___________________________________
Type of Symmetry: _____________________
Domain: _________________________
Range: ___________________________

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

As the degree of the function increases, the graph of the function _______________________

Odd Degree Power Functions

General Shape End Behaviour: ___________________________________

___________________________________
Type of Symmetry: _____________________

Domain: ____________________________

Range: ____________________________
As the degree of the function increases, the graph of the function _____________________

Leading Coefficient

For function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙𝒏

0<a<1 a>1
Value of a a=1 a<0 or or
0 > a > -1 a < -1

Effect

Even Degree
Graph

Odd Degree
Graph

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Power Functions & Transformations Investigation

Function 𝑦 = 𝑥3

Graph

Function 𝑦 = 𝑥3 + 2 𝑦 = 𝑥3 − 2 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)3 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)3

Graph

1 1
Function 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 𝑦 = 𝑥3 3 𝑦 = ( 𝑥)3
2 𝑦 = (2𝑥) 2

Graph

Function 𝑦 = −𝑥 3 𝑦 = (−𝑥)3

Graph

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Graphing Polynomial Functions Investigation

Determine the number of x-intercept and local max/min points for the
following function.
Number of
x-intercepts

Number of Local
Max/Min Points

Constant Functions Function 𝒚=𝟏 𝒚 = −𝟕

a) How many x-intercepts can a
Constant Function have?
Graph

b) What is the maximum number of # of

max/min points that a Constant
x-intercepts
Function can have?
# of Local
Max/Min
Points

Linear Function

Function 𝒚=𝒙 𝒚 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟖

Factored

Graph

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

# of X-Intercept

# of Local Max/Min
Points

a) How many x-intercepts can a Linear b) What is the maximum number of

Function have? max/min points that a Linear Function can
have?

Quadratic Functions

Function 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 𝒚 = −𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏

Factored

Graph

# of X-Intercept

# of Local Max/Min
Points

a) How many x-intercepts can a Quadratic b) What is the maximum number of

Function have? max/min points that a Quadratic Function can
have?

Cubic Functions

Function 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙 𝒚 = −𝟐𝒙𝟑 +𝟕𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑

Factored 𝑦 = −1(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Graph

# of X-Intercept

# of Local
Max/Min Points

a) How many x-intercepts can a Cubic b) What is the maximum number of max/min
Function have? points that a Cubic Function can have?

Quartic Functions
Function 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟒 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 𝒚 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝒙𝟒 − 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓𝒙𝟑 + 𝟏𝟓. 𝟓𝒙𝟐 −
𝟐. 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟑
Factored 𝑦 = 0.5(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3)(5𝑥 2 + 1)

Graph

# of X-Intercept

# of Local
Max/Min Points

a) How many x-intercepts can a Quartic b) What is the maximum number of

Function have? max/min points that a Quartic Function can
have?

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Quintic Functions
Function 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟓 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟓 − 𝟐𝒙 𝒚 = 𝟓𝒙𝟓 − 𝟓𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙

Factored 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 −

1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)
Graph

# of X-Intercept

# of Local Max/Min
Points

Function 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟓 − 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟓𝒙𝟑 + 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟓 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟐𝟒. 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟓 + 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟓𝒙𝟑 −

𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟒 𝟏𝟕. 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐. 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏. 𝟔 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟒
Factored 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0.2(𝑥 − 2)3 (10𝑥 2 + 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 2)2 (𝑥 − 1)3
2)(𝑥 − 2) 1)
Graph

# of X-Intercept

# of Local Max/Min
Points

a) How many x-intercepts can a Quintic b) What is the maximum number of

Function have? max/min points that a Quintic Function can
have?

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

How does the maximum number of local max/min points compare to the degree of the function?

Predict the degree of a function that has 7 local max/min points.

How does the number of x-intercepts that a function can have compare to the degree of the
function?

Predict the degree of a function that has 11 x-intercepts.

What relationship do you notice between the factored form of the equation and the graph of the
function?

Characteristics of Polynomial Functions

Local Minimum and Maximum Points:
Let’s look at the graph of the polynomial function defined
by 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 − 12.
In general, polynomial function graphs consist of a smooth line with
a series of hills and valleys. The hills and valleys are called
___________________________. Each turning point corresponds to a ___________________
or a ______________________
The maximum possible number of local min/max points is ______ less than the degree of
the polynomial.
Example: The polynomial above 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 − 12 has degree __________ and
has ________ local minimums and _______ local maximum, for a total of ________ turning
points.

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Zero (or x-intercepts) of polynomial functions

A zero of a polynomial function is an x value for which 𝑦 = 0. At these x values, its graph cuts
or touches the x axis.
• The maximum number of zeros of any polynomial is the ______________ its degree.
Example: The polynomial function 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 − 12, graphed above, has
________ zeros at 𝑥 = _____________________________. This polynomial _____________ the x-axis
at -4 and 3, but only _____________ the x-axis at 𝑥 = −1.

• Even-degree polynomials may not • Odd-degree polynomials must

have zeros. have at least one zero.

Key Features of Graphs of Polynomial Functions with Odd Degree

• Odd-degree polynomial have at least one zero, up to a maximum of n x-intercepts, where
n is the degree of the function.
• The domain is {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅} and the range is {𝑦 ∈ 𝑅}.
• They have no maximum point and no minimum point.
• They may have point symmetry.
Positive Leading Coefficient
• Graph extends from quadrant 3 to quadrant 1.
OR “as 𝑥 ⟶ −∞, 𝑦 ⟶ −∞” and “as 𝑥 ⟶ ∞, 𝑦 ⟶ ∞”
Negative Leading Coefficient
• Graph extends from quadrant 2 to quadrant 4.
OR “as 𝑥 ⟶ −∞, 𝑦 ⟶ ∞” and “as 𝑥 ⟶ ∞, 𝑦 ⟶ −∞”

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Key Features of Graphs of Polynomial Functions with Even Degree

• Even-degree polynomial have no zeros, up to a maximum of n x-intercepts, where n is
the degree of the function.
• The domain is {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅}.
• They may have a line of symmetry.
Positive Leading Coefficient
• Graph extends from quadrant 2 to quadrant 1.
OR “as 𝑥 ⟶ −∞, 𝑦 ⟶ ∞” and “as 𝑥 ⟶ ∞, 𝑦 ⟶ ∞”
• The range is {𝑦 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑦 ≥ 𝑎}, where a is the minimum value of the function.
• It will have at least one minimum point.
Negative Leading Coefficient
• Graph extends from quadrant 4 to quadrant 4.
OR “as 𝑥 ⟶ −∞, 𝑦 ⟶ −∞” and “as 𝑥 ⟶ ∞, 𝑦 ⟶ −∞”
• The range is {𝑦 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑦 ≤ 𝑎}, where a is the maximum value of the function.
• It will have at least one maximum point.

Example 1: Sketch a possible graph for each of the following functions.

a. 𝑦 = −𝑥(𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 − 5)
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2(𝑥 − 2)2 (𝑥 + 3)2
c. 𝑔(𝑥) = −0.5(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)3
d. 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 4)3
e. 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥(2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)2

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Advanced Function Class 2 Handout

Example 2: Determine a possible equation for the polynomial

function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) shown below.

Example 3
a. State the equation of a cubic function that has exactly
two x-intercepts.

b. State the equation of a quartic function that has exactly two x-intercepts.

c. State the equation of a quintic function that has exactly two x-intercepts.

Example 4: Determine the equation given the graph of the polynomial function 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) with
integer zeros.

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