Features of Polynomials Investigation

Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

Investigating the Features of

Polynomials
Introduction:
Throughout this investigation we explored the features of polynomials, an expression of
more than two algebraic terms, especially the sum of several terms that contain different
powers of the same variable/s (English Oxford Dictionary, 2023). Real polynomial functions
of degree 4 is a function of the structure p ( x )=ax 4 + bx3 + cx 2+ dx+ e where a , b , c , d ,e are
real numbers and a ≠ 0, and each of those real polynomials can be factorised into several
different forms. The aim was to discover the graphs of real polynomials and the relation of
the number of turning points and number of inflection points to the number of distinct real
linear factors. A point of inflection is a point along a curve y=f(x) at which its concavity
changes; it goes from being concave up, f′′(x)>0, to concave down, f′′(x)<0, or concave
down, f′′(x)<0, to concave up, f′′(x)>0 (Radford Mathematics, 2023). You can view a turning
point as a point where the curve changes directions and are either maximum or minimum
points and are stationary. However, stationary points are not always turning points (Stack
Exchange 2023).

Part A:
1)

Function Roots Number Number Graph

Used of of points
turning of
points inflection
F(x)=1(x-3)(x-2)(x+4)(x+2) 3 3 2
2
-4
-2
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

F(x)=2(x-2)(x-3)(x+1)(x-6) 2 3 2
3
-2
6

F(x)=4(x+4)(x-2)(x+1)(x-3) -4 3 2
2
-2
3

F(x)=-1(x+2)(x-3)(x+4)(x-1) -2 3 2
3
-4
1

F(x)=-4(x-2)(x+3)(x-1)(x-10) 2 3 2
-3
1
10

2)

Function Roots Number Number Graph

Used of turning of points
points of
inflection
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

F(x)=2(x-4)(x-1)(x+2)(x+1)(x+4) 4 4 3
1
-2
-1
-4

F(x)=1(x-2)(x+2)(x-3)(x+1)(x-4) 2 4 3
-2
3
-1
4
F(x)=-4(x-1)(x+3)(x-2)(x+1)(x-4) 1 4 3
-3
2
-1
4

F(x)=3(x+3)(x-1)(X+2)(X+1)(X- -3 4 3
3) 1
-2
1
3

F(x)=5(x+2)(x-1)(x+4)(x-3)(x-2) -2 4 3
1
-4
3
2

3) Conjecture:
Through part A of this investigation, a pattern quickly arose with all the equations with 4
distinct real linear factors having 3 turning points and 2 points of inflection, and all the
equations with 5 distinct real linear factors having 4 turning points and 3 points of
inflection. This leads me to believe that there is a pattern, the number of turning points
being found by n-1 (n being the number of distinct real linear factors) and the number
of points of inflection being found by n-2.

4)

Function Roots Numbe Numb Graph

r of er of
Turning points
Points of
inflec
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

tion
F ( x )=2( x+1)(x−4)(x +4)(x −3)(x−2)(
-1 x−5) 5 4
4
-4
3
2
5

F ( x )=5 ( x−1)( x−3)(x+2)(x−4)(x +1)(x−5)(x+1)

1 6 5
3
-2
4
-1(repeated)
5

F ( x )=3 ( x+ 4)(x−1)(x +5)(x−2)( x+-4

2)(x−7)( 7x+6)(x +1)6
1
-5
2
-2
7
-6
-1

I further investigated into my conjecture with 3 more equations, one of which had 6 distinct
real linear factors, the second had 7 and the third had 8. By investigating with these
equation, it further proved my conjecture of number of turning points being found by n-1,
and the number of points of inflection being found by n-2.

Part B:
1)

Function roots No. of No. of Graph

turning points of
points inflection
2
F ( x )=3 ( x−2 ) ( x +3)(x +1) 2 3 2
-3
-1
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

2
F ( x )=4 ( x +3 ) (x +2)( x−5) -3 3 2
-2
5

2
F ( x )=2 ( x−3 ) ( x +1)(x−5) 3 3 2
-1
5

2
F ( x )=−2 ( x +1 ) (x−3)(x +7) -1 3 2
3
-7

2)

Function Root No. of No. of Graph

s turning points
points of
inflec
tion
2
F ( x )=2 ( x−3 ) ( x + 4)(x−1)( x−5) 3(repe 4 3
ated)
-4
1
5

2
F ( x )=5 ( x−4 ) (x +2)(x +1)(x−6)(x+ 3) 4(repe 5 4
ated)
-2
-1
6
-3
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

2
4(repe
F ( x )=1 ( x−4 ) (x−2)(x +7)( x−3)(x +5)(x+1) 6 5
ated)
2
-7
3
-5
1
2
1(repe −6)
F ( x )=6 ( x −1 ) ( x+3)(x−2)(x +4 )(x−3)(x+ 5)(x 7 6
ated)
-3
2
-4
3
-5
6
3) Conjecture:
Throughout part B we were asked to investigate at least three real polynomials with one
squared real linear factor and two distinct real linear factor, and real polynomials of
degree five and beyond with only one squared real linear factor. Both part one and two
of part B prove my conjecture from part A as each of the real polynomials with one
squared real linear factor and two distinct real linear factors have three turning points
and 2 inflection points, and each of the polynomials with one squared real linear factor
and either four, five, or six distinct real linear factors go by the theory of n-1= the
number of turning points, and n-2= the number of inflection points.

4)

Function roots No. of No. of Graph

turnin inflectio
g n points
points
2
3
F ( x )=7 ( x−3 ) (x−5)(x+ 1)(x−2)(x +2)( x−4 )(x+3)(x−1)
(repeated
)
5
-1
2
-2
4
-3
1
2
- 3)( x +5)(x +1)(x−2)
F ( x )=5 ( x +6 ) (x−3)(x + 4)(x−7)(x +2)(x+
6(repeated
)
3
-4
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

7
-2
-3
-5
-1
2

Part C:

Function Roots No. of No, of Graph

turning inflection
points points
3
F ( x )=1 ( x +4 ) (x+ 2)( x −3) -4 2 1
(repeated)

-2
3

3
F ( x )=4 ( x−2 ) (x +3) 2 1 0
(repeated)
-3

F ( x )=3 ( x−2 a)¿ 4 2 1

If a=2 -6
F ( x )=3 ( x−4 )( x+ 6)( x+1) -1

Conclusion:
For this investigation, we were asked to explore the features of polynomials through
experimenting with different polynomials and finding the number of turning points and
points of inflection. As I started to explore different functions, a pattern revealed itself,
being the number of turning points could be found by n-1, and the number of points of
inflection could be found by n-2, n being the number of distinct real linear factors of the
function. All throughout this investigation that conjecture has followed, with all functions
proving my theory further. I investigated a total of 26 different functions, ranging from
Features of Polynomials Investigation
Year 11 Methods A
Page count: 8

having 4 distinct real linear factors, to having up to 10, also having some squared and cubed
functions.