Lesson Graphs of a Polynomial

1 Function
There are four cases of the Leading Coefficient Test:
Given a polynomial function in standard form,

P(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + an-2xn-2 + … + a1x + a0

The table below shows the behavior of the graph of polynomial function
in standard form.
Leading Degree End-Behavior of the Graph
Coefficient
rises
right
Case Positive Odd
1 Falls
left

Rises
Case Negative Odd left
2

Falls
right
Rises Rises
left right

Case Positive Even

3

Case Negative Even Falls Falls

4 left right

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Summary of the Leading Coefficient Test

1. Case 1 showed that if the degree of the polynomial is odd and the
leading coefficient is positive, then the graph falls to the left and rises
to the right.
2. Case 2 showed that if the degree of the polynomial is odd and the
leading coefficient is negative, then the graph rises to the left and falls
to the right.
3. Case 3 showed that if the degree of the polynomial is even and the
leading coefficient is positive, then the graph rises to the right and also
rises to the left.
4. Case 4 showed that if the degree of the polynomial is even and the
leading coefficient is negative, then the graph falls to the left and also
falls to the right.
Here are the steps involved in graphing polynomial functions:

1. Write the function in factored form.

2. Determine the end-behavior of the graph of a given polynomial
function using the Leading Coefficient Test.
3. Find the zeros of the polynomial function and their multiplicity.
If (𝑥 − 𝑎)𝑘 is a factor of the polynomial function, then 𝑎 is a
zero of multiplicity 𝑘. The multiplicity refers to the exponent of
•

the factors of the polynomial.

• If the multiplicity of the zeros is even, then the graph touches
the x-axis or tangent to the x-axis.
• If the multiplicity of the zeros is odd, then the graph crosses
the x-axis.
4. Construct a table of values for x and 𝑃(𝑥).
5. Plot the points and draw a smooth continuous curve to connect the
points.
6. Make sure that the graph follows the end behavior as found in the
above step.
Example 1. Describe the behavior of the graph by completing the table.

End-behavior of
Factored Leading the graph
Function Degree
Coefficient
Form Left Tail Right
Tail
1.𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 – 3𝑥

2. 𝑃(𝑥) = −𝑥3 + 𝑥2 –
12𝑥

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Solution:

1. Factor the given function using the factoring techniques you have
learned:

𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 − �(� 3𝑥 2
− 2𝑥 − 3) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 −
3)
•

• −𝑥3 + 𝑥2 − 12𝑥 −𝑥( 𝑥2 − 𝑥 + 12) −𝑥(𝑥 − 4) (𝑥 + 3)

2. The degree of the polynomial function in one variable can be easily

highest exponent of the function. In this case, the degree of 𝑃(𝑥)

identified when it is written in standard form. The degree is the

= 𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 – 3𝑥 is 3 and the degree of 𝑃(𝑥) = −𝑥3 + 𝑥2 – 12𝑥 is 3.

3. The leading coefficient is the numerical coefficient of the term with
the highest degree. The leading coefficient of 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 – 3𝑥 is
1 and for 𝑃(𝑥) = −𝑥3 + 𝑥2 – 12𝑥 is −1.
4. Using the Leading Coefficient Test, the graph of 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 –
3𝑥 is falling at the left and rising at the right while the graph of 𝑃(𝑥)
= −𝑥3 + 𝑥2 – 12𝑥 is rising at the left and falling at the right.

Example 2. Given the function in factored form, 𝑃 (𝑥) = (𝑥 + 2)2(𝑥 +

1)3(𝑥 − 1)4(𝑥 − 2). Complete the table below by finding the zeros,
multiplicity of the zeros, characteristic of its multiplicity and behavior of
the graph.
Multiplicity Characteristic of
Zeros Behavior of the Graph
of Zero the Multiplicity

Solution:

• To find the zeros of 𝑃(𝑥) set 𝑃(𝑥) = 0 and solve for the values of 𝑥.
That is,

(𝑥 + 2)2 = 0, (𝑥 + 1)3 = 0, (𝑥 − 1)4 = 0, (𝑥 − 2) = 0

The zeros are the x – intercepts of the polynomial function. It is

where the graph crosses or touches the x – axis.

the zeros −2 is of multiplicity 2, −1 is of multiplicity 3, 1 is of

• The exponent of each factor is the multiplicity of the zero. Hence,

multiplicity 4, and 2 is of multiplicity 1.

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 • To determine the characteristic of the multiplicity, just indicate
whether the exponent of the factor is even or odd.
• If the multiplicity of the zero is even, it means that the graph will
just touch the x – axis at the zero while if odd it will cross the x – axis
at the zero.

Zeros Multiplicity Characteristic of Behavior of the Graph

of Zero the Multiplicity
−2 2 Even touches the x-axis at −2
−1 3 Odd crosses the x-axis at −1
1 4 Even touches the x-axis at 1
2 1 odd crosses the x-axis at 2

Example 3. Complete the table below.

Polynomial Function Sketch Degree Number of

1.𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4 – 2𝑥2 – 15
Turning Points

2. 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥5 + 𝑥3– 2𝑥 + 1

Solution:
Number of
Polynomial Function Sketch Degree
Turning Points
1.𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4– 2𝑥2 − 15

4 3

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 2. 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥5 + 𝑥3– 2𝑥 + 1
5 2

Take note: Quartic functions like 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥4– 2𝑥2 − 15 have odd number of
turning points while quintic functions like 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥5 + 𝑥3– 2𝑥 + 1 has even
number of turning points. The number of turning points is at most (𝑛 −
1), where 𝑛 is the degree of the polynomial function.
Example 4. Make a table of values for x and P(x) of the polynomial
function:

𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 1)3(𝑥 + 2)2

Solution: The zeros of the given polynomial are 1 and 2. These zeros
divide the x – axis in to three intervals: ( , 2), ( 2, 1) and (1, ). Hence,
make a table of values by choosing an arbitrary x – value from each
interval so that you can see the behavior of the graph from each interval.
Include the zeros of the polynomial function in your table of values.
x −3 −2 −1 0 1 2
P(x)

Substitute the selected values of x to the given polynomial function. Then

simplify.
If 𝑥 = −3 P(-3) = (-3 – 1)3 ( -3 +
2)2
P(-3) = (-4)3 (-1)2 = (-
64) (1) = -64
If 𝑥 = −2
P(-2) = (-2 – 1)3 ( -2 +
2)2
P(-2) = (-3)3 ( 0 )2 = 0

If 𝑥 = −1
P(-1) = (-1 – 1)3 ( -1 +
2)2
P(-1) = (-2)3 ( 1 )2 = -8
If 𝑥 = 0 P(0) = (0 – 1)3 ( 0 + 2)2
P(0) = (-1)3 ( 2 )2 = - 4
If 𝑥 = 1 P(1) = (1 – 1)3 ( 1 + 2)2
P(1) = (0)3 ( 3 )2 = 0
If 𝑥 = 2 P(2) = (2 – 1)3 ( 2 + 2)2

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 −3 −2 −1
P(2) = (1)3 ( 4 )2 = 16

−64 −8 −4
x 0 1 2
P(x) 0 0 16

𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1).

Example 5. Sketch the graph of the polynomial function

Solution: Let us use the steps in graphing the polynomial function

Step 1. Factor the polynomial function. The given function is already
in factored form.
Step 2. The x – intercepts are -1, 0 and 3. Plot these values to create
intervals.
Step 3. The degree is 3 which is odd and the leading coefficient is
positive 1. Thus, the graph falls on the left and rises on the right.
Step 4. Fill in the table of values for P(x) by using x – values in each
Interval
x −2 −1 0 1 2 3
P(x) −10 0 0 −4 −6 0

Step 5. Plot all the points and connect the points with a smooth
curve.
Step 6. The number of turning points is 2.

(−1,0) (0,0)

(3,0)

(1,−4)

(2,−6)

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