Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________ ID: A

AP Precalculus - Unit 1A Study Guide: Polynomial Functions

E maDdDddddt
a
ggglfffooooooola
/ 70 pts 14 MCQs (2 pts for each correct
g answer, up to 3 pts for valid justification)
The next two questions refer to the graph of f , which is shown in the figure below.

____ 1. Between which two points is the graph of f increasing with an increasing rate of change?

A) A & B B) B & C C) C & D D) None of these

____ 2. At which point is the instantaneous rate of change greatest?

A) A B) B C) C D) D

____ 3. The function g x   ax 3  bx 2  c , where a , b , & c are all real numbers and b  a  0  c .
Which of the following describes the end behavior of g ?

A) lim g x    and lim g x   

x   x

B) lim g x    and lim g x   

x   x

C) lim g x    and lim g x   

x   x

D) lim g x    and lim g x   

x   x

1
Name: ________________________ ID: A

____ 4. The figure above shows the graph of a function h . Between which two points is the average rate of change
the greatest?

A) A & C B) B & C C) B & D D) C & D

   
____ 5. A function p(x) is increasing on the interval  a, b  . If p x   0 on  a, b  , as input values ,
the output values must .

A) increase...increase
B) increase...decrease
C) decrease...increase
D) increase...get larger in magnitude

x 0 2 4 6
f x  ??? 3 11 27

____ 6. The table above shows values for a function f at selected values of x . If f is known to be quadratic, what
is the value for f 0 ?

A) –5 B) –1 C) 1 D) 3

2
Name: ________________________ ID: A

2
____ 7. The polynomial function n is given by n x    x  2  x  1  . Which of the following could be the graph
of n ?

A) C)

B) D)

2 
____ 8. The polynomial h is given by h x   x  1  x  3   x 2  5  . Which of the following describes the zeros
 
of h ?

A) h has exactly three distinct real zeros.

B) h has exactly five distinct real zeros.
C) h has exactly three distinct real zeros and two non-real zeros.
D) h has exactly two distinct real zeros and two non-real zeros.

____ 9. Let f x   x 2  3x  1 and g x   x  2 . On which of the following intervals is g x   f x  ?

  
A)  1, 3  C)  , 1 
 
  3 
B)  2,    
D)  2 ,  
 

____ 10. A polynomial function r is defined for all real numbers. The function has 2 relative maxima, and two
relative minima. The function has neither an absolute maximum nor an absolute minimum. Which of the
following statements must be true about r ?

A) r is at least degree 3. C) r is at least degree 5.

B) r is at least degree 4. D) r is at least degree 7.

3
Name: ________________________ ID: A

k x   a  x n  2x  6

____ 11. The function k is given above. For which values of a and n would k have the following characteristics?

lim k x    and lim k x   

x   x

A) a = 1 B) a = 1 C) a = –1 D) a = –1
n=3 n=4 n=3 n=4

____ 12. A polynomial function f of degree n has zeros at x = 2 , x = –5 , and x = 3i . If f x   0 for all real
values of x , what is the minimum value of n ?

A) 3 B) 4 C) 5 D) 6

The following questions are CALCULATOR ACTIVE! You must still provide valid justification for full credit.

____ 13. The function f is given by f x   0.31x 3  4.71x 2  8.64x  5.27 . Which of the following values is an
absolute extremum for the graph of f on the closed interval 18  x  4 ?

A) –247.073 B) –10.975 C) 9.021 D) –55.370

 
____ 14. Find the average rate of change of g x   2x 4  65x 2  34x  82 on the interval  6, 5  .

A) –253
B) –24.6
C) –23
D) –21.667

4
Name: ________________________ ID: A

The following FRQ is NON-CALCULATOR!

x –3 –1 1 3
g(x) 0 b c 12

15. A portion of the function f is shown in the graph above. Selected values of the function g are given in the
18 table above, where b and c are integers. Answer the following questions regarding these functions.

(a) The function f is modeled by a polynomial of degree n with leading coefficient a.

(i) Draw a conclusion about the numerical value of n. Give a reason for your answer.
/ 4 pts

(ii) Draw a conclusion about the sign of a. Give a reason for your answer.
/ 2 pts

 
(b) While not shown on the graph above, it is known that x  13  2 is a zero for f and  x 2  4  is a
 
factor of f. With this new information, determine the minimum value for n. Give a reason for your
answer.
/ 2 pts

(c) Calculate the average rate of change of g on the interval 3  x  3.

/ 2 pts

(d) If g is a linear function, determine the value of b.

/ 3 pts

(e) If g is a concave up quadratic function, fill in the circle with either > or < as appropriate.
Justify your answer in terms of input and output values and rates of change.
/ 4 pts
12  c b

5
Name: ________________________ ID: A

The following FRQ is CALCULATOR ACTIVE!


 3
k x    x  2   3 x1


 2x x1

16. The function h is shown in the graph above. The function k is given by the formula above. Answer the
Alas following questions about these two functions.

(a) On the interval 8  x  4 , h is linear. Estimate one value of x where the instantaneous rate of
change of h is equal to the average rate of change of this linear portion.
/ 2 pts
o
(b) Give a value for h 4 if h has each of the following characteristics.

(i) h is even.

Mb
/ 1 pt

(ii) h is odd.

an
/ 1 pt

(iii) h is neither even nor odd.

Mo
/ 1 pt

(c) Determine the interval(s) on which k x  is increasing. Justify your answer in terms of input and
output values.

oo
/ 2 pts

(d) Identify the interval, if any, of k where the rate of change is increasing.
/ 2 pts
oo

(e) Let b be a positive constant such that b > 1 . Write an expression in terms of b for the average rate
of change of k on the interval 1  x  b .
/ 4 pts

6
Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________ ID: A

AP Precalculus - Unit 1B Study Guide

owe
/ 55 (11 NON-CALCULATOR MCQs, 2 pts for correct answer, up to 3 pts for valid justification)

____ 1. The graph of f has a hole at x = –3 and a zero at x = 1. Which of these could be f ?

x 2  2x  3 x 2  2x  3
A) f x   C) f x  
x2  1 x2  9
x 2  2x  3 x 2  2x  3
B) f x   D) f x  
x2  1 x2  9

or
____ 2. The graph of a function h has vertical asymptotes at x  2 and a horizontal asymptote at y = 3 . Which of
the following functions could be h ?

3x 2  7 x2  4
A) h x   C) h x  
x2  4 3x 2  7
3x  1 x 2  12
B) h x   2 D) h x   2
x 4 x 4

____
A 3. The function n is obtained by applying the following transformations to the function v : a vertical
1
translation of 4 units down and a horizontal dilation by a factor of 2 . Which of these will map the graph of
v to the graph of n ?

A) n x   v 2x  4 C) n x   v 2x  4
1  1 
B) n x   v  2 x   4 D) n x   v  2 x   4
   

1
(c) Larry Perreault
Name: ________________________ ID: A

2x 2  3x  5
f x  
x2

____ 4. The function f is given above. Which of the following describes the end behavior of f ?

A) The graph of f has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0 .

B) The graph of f has a horizontal asymptote at y = 2 .
C) The graph of f has a slant asymptote at y = 2x – 7 .
D) The graph of f has a slant asymptote at y = 2x + 1 .

x2  9
____ 5. The function g is given by g x   . What is the domain of g ?
x 3  5x 2  24x

A) , x  8,x  3 C) , x  8,x  0
B) , x  8,x  3,x  0 D) , x  8,x  3,x  0

____ 6. The function h is given by h x   3 x . The graph of h is constructed by applying which

2 transformations to the graph of y x ?

A) Reflection across the y-axis, vertical dilation of 3 .

1
B) Reflection across the y-axis, vertical dilation of 3 .
C) Reflection across the x-axis, vertical dilation of 3 .
1
D) Reflection across the x-axis, vertical dilation of 3 .

5
7. What is the 3rd term in the expansion of x  3  , according to the Binomial Theorem?
____
3
A) 60x 3 C) 90x 3
B) 60x 3 D) 90x 3

2
(c) Larry Perreault
Name: ________________________ ID: A

____ 8. Which of the following graphs shows a function that is increasing with an increasing rate of change?

A) B) C) D)

____ 9. The speed v of a rolling object (down an uneven hill) t seconds after it was released can be modeled by a
function v t  , where v is approximately linear from time t = 0 to t = t1 , and quadratic for times t greater
than t1 . Which of the following could be v t  , and what is an explanation for the change in models?



 2t 2 0  t  t1
A) v t    The hill’s angle gets steeper, then is constant.

 20  3  t  t 1  t  t1




 2t 2 0  t  t1
B) v t    The hill’s angle is constant, then gets steeper.

 20  3  t  t 1  t  t1



Noooothandamme
 2t 0  t  t1

C) v t    The hill’s angle gets steeper, then is constant.
 2
 20  3  t  t 1  t  t1


 2t 0  t  t1

D) v t    The hill’s angle is constant, then gets steeper.
 2
 20  3  t  t 1  t  t1


____ 10. A characteristic of a sphere is modeled by a function q x  . The rates of change of q follow a linear pattern.
The function q could be modeling the of the sphere.

A) radius C) surface area

B) diameter D) volume

3
(c) Larry Perreault
 Name: ________________________ ID: A

____ 11. The graph of a rational function r has two x-intercepts, which account for a total multiplicity of 3 zeros.
5
The degree of the denominator of r is 6 , and the graph of r shows a slant (linear) asymptote. Based on
this information, r must have how many nonreal zeros?

A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 6

The following FRQs are NON-CALCULATOR !!!

x –5 –1 3 5 7  1 
k x   3h   2 x  4   1
h x  1 4 ??? 0 3  

12. Selected values for the function h are given in the table above. The function k is obtained by applying a

18 28 series of five transformations to h , as described by the formula above.

(a) Based on the formula, describe the five transformations that k does to the graph of h .
/ 5 pts
3

(b) Determine the value for k 6 . Show the calculations that lead to your answer.
/ 2 pts

(c) If k 2  11 , determine the value of h 3 . Show the work that leads to your answer.
/ 3 pts

4
(c) Larry Perreault
 Name: ________________________ ID: A

ax 3  bx 2  6
g x  
x2  x  1

13. The graph of the function f and the function g are given above. The function f touches, but does not cross
18 28 the x-axis at x  2 . The unknown value a is a real number.

n x 
(a) The function f is modeled by f x   . What factor is common to both n x  and d x  ?
d x 
Give a reason for your answer.
/ 2 pts

(b) What is the minimum degree of d x  ? Justify your answer.

/ 3 pts

(c) The function j is a transformation of f according to the formula j x   2f  3 x  1    4 . Find
the horizontal asumptote for j . Show the work that leads to your answer.
/ 3 pts

(d) If the graph of g has a slant asymptote at y  2x  5 , find the values of a and b . Justify your
answer.
/ 3 pts

(e) Determine the vertical asymptote(s), if any, of g . Justify your answer.

/ 2 pts

5
(c) Larry Perreault
Name: ________________________ ID: A

/ 10 (2 CALCULATOR ACTIVE MCQs, 2 pts for correct answer, up to 3 pts for valid justification)

2x 2  12
g x  
18  7x  2x 3

____ 14. The function g is given above. Which of the following describes the end behavior of g ?

2
A) g has a horizontal asymptote at y =  3 , because the degrees of the numerator and
2
denominator are equal, and the ratio of the constants is  3 .

B) g has a horizontal asymptote at y = –1 , because the degrees of the numerator and

denominator are equal, and the ratio of the leading coefficients is –1 .

C) g has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0 , because the degree of the denominator exceeds

the degree of the numerator.

D) g has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0 , because the number of terms in the denominator

exceeds the number of terms in the numerator.

mammmmm
____ 15. The speed v (in m/s) of a particle moving along the x-axis is modeled by v t   t 3  9t 2  19t for times
0  t  5 seconds. Based on this, at what time does the particle change direction?

A) 1.367 B) 3.000 C) 3.382 D) 4.633

6
(c) Larry Perreault
1.12A Translations of Functions Name: _____________________
AP Precalc Date:____________ Period:____
Mastery Check #2

Use the graph of 𝒇 to graph 𝒈(𝒙).

1. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) − 3 2. 𝑔(𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥 − 3)
29 30

Express the 𝒈(𝒙) in terms of 𝒙. Use the table of values to answer Find the domain and range of
the following. the transformed function.
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥2 + 2𝑥 − 3
31 4. 5.
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 4 , find 𝑔(𝑥). 32 33The graph for 𝑓 has a domain of
Given the table of values for 𝑓.
(−4,5) and range of [−3, 8].
𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)
−2 −8 Let 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) − 5. Find
0 6 the domain and range of 𝑔(𝑥).
2 4
4 0
6 −6
Let 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) + 3
Find 𝑔(0).
Determine if the following function has a Use the graph of to write the equation of the
horizontal asymptote, slant asymptote, or neither. slant asymptote. (1 point)
(1 point)
2.
35
1.
34
Circle one:
The graph of has a horizontal asymptote.

The graph of has a slant asymptote.

The graph of does not have a horziontal or slant

asymptote.

Divide the following using long division or Write the equation for the slant asymptote for the
synthetic division. (1 point) following functions. (2 points)

363. 37
4.