Polynomial

Functions
Remember integers are … –2, -1, 0, 1, 2 … (no decimals or fractions) so
positive integers would be 0, 1, 2 …

A polynomial function is a function of the form:

n must be a positive integer

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest

power on any x term in the polynomial.
 Polynomial Functions

Polynomial
Name of
Function in Degree
Function
General Form
1 Linear
2 Quadratic
3 Cubic
4 Quartic
The largest exponent within the
polynomial determines the degree of the
polynomial.
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

x0 A polynomial of degree 0.
Not a polynomial because of the square root
since the power is NOT an integer

Not a polynomial because of the x in the

denominator since the power is negative
 Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.
No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn without lifting
pencil from paper

This IS the graph This IS NOT the graph

of a polynomial of a polynomial
 Smooth, Continuous Graphs
Two important features of the graphs of polynomial functions are that they are
smooth and continuous. By smooth, we mean that the graph contains only
rounded curves with no y y
sharp corners. By Smoot
h
Smoot
h
continuous, we mean rounde
d
rounde
d
corner
that the graph has no corner

breaks and can be drawn

without lifting your x x
pencil from the
rectangular coordinate
system. These ideas are Smooth Smoot
rounde
illustrated in the figure. d
h
rounde
corner d
corner
Even polynomial functions: All exponents of the
polynomial are even

Cool feature: always symmetrical about the y-axis

f(-x) = f(x)

Odd polynomial functions: All exponents of the

polynomial are odd

Cool feature: always symmetrical about the origin

f(-x) = - f(x)
 Let’s look at the graph of where n is an even integer.

and grows steeper on

either side

Notice each graph looks

similar to x2 but is wider The higher the power,
and flatter near the origin the flatter and steeper
between –1 and 1
 Let’s look at the graph of where n is an odd integer.

Notice each graph looks and grows steeper on

similar to x3 but is wider either side
and flatter near the origin
between –1 and 1

The higher the power,

the flatter and steeper
Let’s graph
Translates up 2

Reflects about the x- Looks like x2 but

axis wider near origin and
steeper after 1 and -1

So as long as the function is a

transformation of xn, we can graph it, but
what if it’s not? We’ll learn some
techniques to help us determine what
the graph looks like in the next slides.
 and
LEFT RIGHT

HAND BEHAVIOR OF A GRAPH

The degree of the polynomial along with the sign of the coefficient of the term
with the highest power will tell us about the left and right hand behavior of a graph.
 The Leading Coefficient Test

Even Degree: Positive coefficient Negative Coefficient

If the leading If the leading

coefficient is Rises coefficient is
positive, the right negative, the
graph rises to Rises graph falls to
the left and to left the left and to
the right. the right.
Falls
left
Falls
right
Even degree polynomials rise on both the left and
right hand sides of the graph (like x2) if the coefficient
is positive. The additional terms may cause the graph
to have some turns near the center but will always
have the same left and right hand behaviour
determined by the highest powered term.

left hand behavior: rises right hand behavior:

rises
 Even degree polynomials fall on both the left and right
hand sides of the graph (like - x 2) if the coefficient is
negative.
turning points in the
middle

left hand behavior:

falls right hand behavior:
falls
 The Leading Coefficient Test

For an odd degree: Positive coefficient negative coefficient

If the leading If the leading

coefficient is Rises coefficient is Rises
positive, the right negative, the left
graph falls to graph rises to
the left and the left and
rises to the falls to the
right. right. Falls
Falls right
left
 Odd degree polynomials fall on the left and rise on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is positive.

turning Points in the

middle right hand behavior:
rises

left hand behavior:

falls
 Odd degree polynomials rise on the left and fall on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is negative.
turning points in the
middle

left hand behavior: rises

right hand behavior:

falls
 Quartic Polynomials
Look at the two graphs and discuss the questions given
below.

Graph A Graph B

1. How can you check to see if both graphs are functions?

2. How many x-intercepts do graphs A & B have?
3. What is the end behavior for each graph?
4. Which graph do you think has a positive leading coeffient? Why?
5. Which graph do you think has a negative leading coefficient? Why?
 Determining End Behavior
Match each function with its graph.

A. B.

C. D.
 A polynomial of degree n can have at most n-1 turning points (so
whatever the degree is, subtract 1 to get the most times the graph could
turn).

Let’s determine left and right hand behaviour for the graph of the function:

doesn’t mean it has that many turning

points but that’s the most it can have

degree is 4 which is even and the coefficient is positive so the graph will look like x2
looks off to the left and off to the right.

How do we
The graph can have at
determine what it
most 3 turning points
looks like near the
middle?
 x and y intercepts would be useful and we know how to find those. To
find the y intercept we put 0 in for x.

To find the x intercept we put 0 in for y.

Finally we need a smooth curve through (0,30)

the intercepts that has the correct left
and right hand behavior. To pass
through these points, it will have 3
turns (one less than the degree so
that’s okay)
We found the x intercept by putting 0 in for f(x) or y (they are the same thing
remember). So we call the x intercepts the zeros of the polynomial since it is
where it = 0. These are also called the roots of the polynomial.

Can you find the zeros of the

polynomial?

There are repeated factors. (x-1) is to the 3rd power so it is repeated 3 times.
If we set this equal to zero and solve we get 1. We then say that 1 is a zero of
multiplicity 3 (since it showed up as a factor 3 times).

What are the other zeros and -2 is a zero of multiplicity 2

their multiplicities?
3 is a zero of multiplicity 1
 Multiplicity and x-Intercepts
If r is a zero of even multiplicity, then the
graph touches the x-axis and turns around
at r. If r is a zero of odd multiplicity, then
the graph crosses the x-axis at r.
Regardless of whether a zero is even or
odd, graphs tend to flatten out at zeros with
multiplicity greater than one.
So knowing the zeros of a polynomial we can plot them on the graph. If we
know the multiplicity of the zero, it tells us whether the graph crosses the x axis
at this point (odd multiplicities CROSS) or whether it just touches the axis and
turns and heads back the other way (even multiplicities TOUCH). Let’s try to
graph:

What would the left and right hand

behavior be?

You don’t need to multiply this out but figure out what the highest power on an
x would be if multiplied out. In this case it would be an x 3. Notice the negative
out in front.

What would the y intercept 1 of mult. 1

be? (0, 4) (so crosses axis at 1)
-2 of mult. 2
(so touches at 2)
Find the zeros and their
multiplicity
 Text Example
Graph: f (x) = x4 - 2x2 + 1.

Solution
Step 1 Determine end behavior. Because the degree is even (n = 4) and
the leading coefficient, 1, is positive, the graph rises to the left and the right:
y

Rises Rises
left right

x
 Text Example cont.
Graph: f (x) = x4 - 2x2 + 1.

Solution
Step 2 Find the x-intercepts (zeros of the function) by setting f (x) = 0.
x4 - 2x2 + 1 = 0
(x2 - 1)(x2 - 1) = 0 Factor.

(x + 1)(x - 1)(x + 1)(x - 1) = 0 Factor completely.

(x + 1)2(x - 1)2 = 0 Express the factoring in more

compact2 notation.
(x + 1) = 0 or (x - 1)2 = 0 Set each factor equal to zero.

x = -1 x=1 Solve for x.

 Text Example cont.
Graph: f (x) = x4 - 2x2 + 1.

Solution
Step 2 We see that -1 and 1 are both repeated zeros with multiplicity 2.
Because of the even multiplicity, the graph touches the x-axis at -1 and 1 and
turns around. Furthermore, the graph tends to flatten out at these zeros with
multiplicity greater than one:

y
Rises Rises
left right
x
1 1
 Text Example cont.
Graph: f (x) = x4 - 2x2 + 1.

Solution
Step 3 Find the y-intercept. Replace x with 0 in f (x) = -x + 4x - 1.
f (0) = 04 - 2 • 02 + 1 = 1
There is a y-intercept at 1, so the graph passes through (0, 1).
y

Rises 1 Rises
left right
x
1 1
 Text Example cont.
Graph: f (x) = x4 - 2x2 + 1.

Solution
y

x
 Example
• Find the x-intercepts and multiplicity of f(x)
= 2(x+2)2(x-3)
Solution:
• x=-2 is a zero of multiplicity 2 or even
• x=3 is a zero of multiplicity 1 or odd
 Text Example

Find all zeros of f (x) = -x4 + 4x3 - 4x2.

Solution We find the zeros of f by setting f (x) equal to 0.

-x4 + 4x3 - 4x2 = 0 We now have a polynomial
equation.4
x - 4x3 + 4x2 = 0 Multiply both sides by -1. (optional step)

x2(x2 - 4x + 4) = 0 Factor out x2.

x2(x - 2)2 = 0 Factor completely.

x2 = 0 or (x - 2)2 = 0 Set each factor equal to zero.
x=0 x=2 Solve for x.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

Graph f (x) = x 3 + x 2 – 4 x – 1.

SOLUTION

To graph the function, make a table of values

and plot the corresponding points. Connect
the points with a smooth curve and check the
end behavior.

x
The degree –3
is odd –2 –1leading
and the 0 coefficient
1 2is positive,
3
so f (x)f(x) – –7 as x3 – 3 and –1 f (x) –3
+ as3x 23 + .
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

Graph f (x) = –x 4 – 2x 3 + 2x 2 + 4x.

SOLUTION

To graph the function, make a table of values

and plot the corresponding points. Connect
the points with a smooth curve and check the
end behavior.

x
The degree –3is even
–2 and–1 0
the leading 1 2 is 3
coefficient
f (x) ––21 as 0x ––1 and0 f (x) 3 – –16
negative, as x –105
+ .
so f (x)
GRAPHING POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

CONCEPT
END BEHAVIOR FOR POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
SUMMARY

an n x –¥ x +¥
>0 even f (x) +¥ f (x) +¥

>0 odd f (x) –¥ f (x) +¥

<0 even f (x) –¥ f (x) –¥

<0 odd f (x) +¥ f (x) –¥

Graphing a Polynomial Function
f (x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + an-2xn-2 + ¼ + a1x + a0 (an ¹ 0)
1. Use the Leading Coefficient Test to determine the
graph's end behavior.
2. Find x-intercepts by setting f (x) = 0 and solving the
resulting polynomial equation. If there is an x-
intercept at r as a result of (x - r)k in the complete
factorization of f (x), then:
a. If k is even, the graph touches the x-axis at r and
turns around.
b. If k is odd, the graph crosses the x-axis at r.
c. If k > 1, the graph flattens out at (r, 0).
3. Find the y-intercept by setting x equal to 0 and
computing f (0).