Illustrating Polynomial Functions
Illustrating Polynomial Functions
Polynomial
Functions
FACT or BLUFF
Write FACT if the expression being
shown is a polynomial, otherwise write
BLUFF.
Using the polynomial function
Tell whether the following is a
polynomial function or not. Give the
degree and the number of terms for
polynomial functions.
A polynomial function is a function in the form
𝑷(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒏𝒙𝒏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟏𝒙𝒏−𝟏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟐𝒙𝒏−𝟐 + ⋯+ 𝒂𝟏𝒙𝟏 + 𝒂𝟎,
where 𝑛 is a nonnegative integer, n as a positive
integer implies that:
a. n is not negative
b. n is not zero
c. n is not a fraction
d. n is not a radical, and
e. n is not imaginary
are real numbers called coefficients, is the
leading term, is the leading coefficient, and is
the constant term.
Finding x and y
intercepts of
Polynomial
Functions
Pass the Message
Group students to five. The student seated in
front will solve the given problem and will pass
the answer to his members until it reach the last
person in the group. The group that gets the
most number of correct answers wins the game.
y=0
The y-intercept is 0. This means
the graph will also pass through
(0,0).
1. In graphing polynomial
function, what is the
importance of the x- and
y- intercepts?
2. What are the steps in
finding the intercepts?
Determine the intercepts of the
graphs of the following polynomial
functions:
1. P(x) = x2 + 8x + 15
2. P(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 4x + 8
3. P(x) = x4 – 2x2 + 1
4. P(x) = (x + 2)(x + 5)(x – 3)(x – 4)
5.P(x) = x(x – )(x + 4)(x – 1)
Solving for the x- and y- intercepts is an important
step in graphing a polynomial function. These
intercepts are used to determine the points where the
graph intersects or touches the x-axis and the y-axis.
2. y = x3 – 7x + 6
3. y = x4 – x2 + 2x3 – 2x
4. y = x – 4x + x + 6
3 2
5. y = –x(x – 2)(x – ) (x – 3)
Assignment!
1. Follow Up
–Are the Intercepts enough information
for us to graph polynomial functions?
–Are there other things we need to
consider? What are those?
2. Study:
–Behaviour of the Graph of a
Polynomial, Table of Signs, Multiplicity
Graphs of
Polynomial
Functions
Aside from the Intercepts, there
are many other things to consider
when we draw the graph of a
polynomial function. These are
some other things that we need to
take into consideration;
a. multiplicity of roots.
b. behavior of the graph
c. number of turning points
Illustrative Examples:
1. Describe the behavior of the graph of
f(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3).
n is even n is odd
an>0
an<0
If the polynomial function
𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 1)2(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) is written in
the standard form then we have
𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥5 − 𝑥4 − 9𝑥3 + 𝑥2 + 20𝑥 + 12
We can easily see that this is a 5th degree
polynomial. Thus, 𝑛 is odd.
The leading term is 𝑥5, 𝑎𝑛 = 1 and 𝑎𝑛 > 0.
Therefore the graph of the polynomial
comes up from the extreme left and goes up
to the extreme right if n is odd and 𝑎𝑛 > 0
d. number of turning points:
Remember that the number of turning points in
the graph of a polynomial is strictly less than the
degree of the polynomial.
Also, we must note that;
i.Quartic Functions: have an odd number of turning
points; at most 3 turning points
ii.Quintic functions: have an even number of turning
points, at most 4 turning points
iii.The number of turning points is at most (𝑛 − 1)
For our graph to pass through the intercepts (−2,0),
(2,0), (3,0) and tangent at (−1,0), there will be 4 turning
points.
For the given polynomial function y = 𝑥5 − 𝑥4 −
9𝑥3 + 𝑥2 + 20𝑥 + 12 , describe or determine the
following:
a. leading term
b. behavior of the graph
c. x-intercepts
d. multiplicity of roots
e. y-intercept
f. number of turning points
g. graph the function