L1 – 1.

1 – Power Functions Lesson

MHF4U
Jensen

Things to Remember About Functions

• A relation is a function if for every 𝑥-value there is only 1

corresponding 𝑦-value. The graph of a relation represents a function if
it passes the ________________________________________, that is, if a vertical
line drawn anywhere along the graph intersects that graph at no more
than one point.

• The ________________of a function is the complete set of all possible values of the independent
variable (𝑥)
o Set of all possible 𝑥-vales that will output real 𝑦-values

• The ________________ of a function is the complete set of all possible resulting values of the dependent
variable (𝑦)
o Set of all possible 𝑦-values we get after substituting all possible 𝑥-values

• For the function 𝑓 𝑥 = (𝑥 − 1)) + 3

• The degree of a function is the highest exponent in the expression

o 𝑓 𝑥 = 6𝑥 - − 3𝑥 ) + 4𝑥 − 9 has a degree of _____.

• An __________________________ is a line that a curve approaches more

and more closely but never touches.

𝟏
The function 𝒚 = has two asymptotes:
𝒙3𝟑

Vertical Asymptote: Division by zero is undefined. Therefore the

expression in the denominator of the function can not be zero. Therefore
x ≠ -3. This is why the vertical line x = -3 is an asymptote for this function.

Horizontal Asymptote: For the range, there can never be a situation

where the result of the division is zero. Therefore the line y = 0 is a
horizontal asymptote. For all functions where the denominator is a higher
degree than the numerator, there will by a horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
Polynomial Functions

A polynomial function has the form

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎6 𝑥 6 + 𝑎678 𝑥 678 + 𝑎67) 𝑥 67) + ⋯ + 𝑎) 𝑥 ) + 𝑎8 𝑥 8 + 𝑎:

• 𝑛 Is a whole number
• 𝑥 Is a variable
• the _________________________ 𝑎: , 𝑎8 , … , 𝑎6 are real numbers
• the ___________________ of the function is 𝑛, the exponent of the greatest power of 𝑥
• 𝑎6 , the coefficient of the greatest power of 𝑥, is the ________________________________
• 𝑎: , the term without a variable, is the ___________________________
• The domain of a polynomial function is the set of real numbers __________________
• The range of a polynomial function may be all real numbers, or it may have a lower bound or an
upper bound (but not both)
• The graph of polynomial functions do not have horizontal or vertical asymptotes
• The graphs of polynomial functions of degree 0 are __________________________. The shapes of other
graphs depends on the degree of the function. Five typical shapes are shown for various degrees:

A ___________________________is the simplest type of polynomial function and has the form:
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 6
• 𝑎 is a real number
• 𝑥 is a variable
• 𝑛 is a whole number

Example 1: Determine which functions are polynomials. State the degree and the leading coefficient of
each polynomial function.

a) 𝑔 𝑥 = sin 𝑥

b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 C

c) 𝑦 = 𝑥 - − 5𝑥 ) + 6𝑥 − 8

d) 𝑔 𝑥 = 3F
Interval Notation

In this course, you will often describe the features of the graphs of a variety of types of functions in
relation to real-number values. Sets of real numbers may be described in a variety of ways:

1) as an inequality −3 < 𝑥 ≤ 5

2) interval (or bracket) notation (−3, 5]

3) graphically on a number line

Note:
• Intervals that are infinite are expressed using _____________________ or _____________________________
• ________________________indicate that the end value is included in the interval
• ________________________indicate that the end value is NOT included in the interval
• A ________________ bracket is always used at infinity and negative infinity

Example 2: Below are the graphs of common power functions. Use the graph to complete the table.

End End
Power Special
Graph Domain Range Behaviour as Behaviour as
Function Name
𝒙 → −∞ 𝒙→ ∞

𝒚=𝒙 Linear

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 Quadratic

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 Cubic
 End End
Power Special
Graph Domain Range Behaviour as Behaviour as
Function Name
𝒙 → −∞ 𝒙→ ∞

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟒 Quartic

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟓 Quintic

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟔 Sextic
Key Features of EVEN Degree Power Functions

When the leading coefficient (a) is positive When the leading coefficient (a) is negative

End End
behaviour behaviour

Domain Domain

Range Range

Example: Example:

𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 C 𝑓 𝑥 = −3𝑥 )

Line Symmetry

A graph has line symmetry if there is a vertical line 𝑥 = 𝑎 that divides

the graph into two parts such that each part is a reflection of the
other.

Note:
Key Features of ODD Degree Power Functions

When the leading coefficient (a) is positive When the leading coefficient (a) is negative

End End
behaviour behaviour

Domain Domain

Range Range

Example: Example:

𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 Q 𝑓 𝑥 = −2𝑥 -

Point Symmetry

A graph has point point symmetry about a point (𝑎, 𝑏) if each

part of the graph on one side of (𝑎, 𝑏) can be rotated 180° to
coincide with part of the graph on the other side of (𝑎, 𝑏).

Note:
Example 3: Write each function in the appropriate row of the second column of the table.
Give reasons for your choices.

𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 5𝑥 U 𝑦 = −3𝑥 ) 𝑦 = 𝑥V
)
𝑦 = − 𝑥W 𝑦 = −4𝑥 Q 𝑦 = 𝑥 8: 𝑦 = −0.5𝑥 Y
Q

End Behaviour Functions Reasons

Q3 to Q1

Q2 to Q4

Q2 to Q1

Q3 to Q4
Example 4: For each of the following functions

i) State the domain and range

ii) Describe the end behavior
iii) Identify any symmetry

a) i) Domain: Range:
𝒚 = −𝒙

ii) As _____________________ and as ______________________

The graph extends from quadrant _____ to _____

iii)

b)
𝒚 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝒙𝟐 i) Domain: Range:

ii) As _____________________ and as ______________________

The graph extends from quadrant _____ to _____

iii)

c)
𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙𝟑 i) Domain: Range:

ii) As _____________________ and as ______________________

The graph extends from quadrant _____ to _____

iii)