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MathScope Handbook - Function Definitions

FUNCTIONS OF ONE VARIABLE FUNCTION DEFINITIONS

1 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS Any function of the form f (x) = an x + an-1 x is called a polynomial function. n is a natural number (positive integer) aI, i = 0,1, n are n + 1 real numbers (some of which may be zero) called the coefficients of the polynomial. The polynomial is said to be of degree n .
n n-1

+ + a1 x + a0

Examples:

(i)

f (x) = 4x + 3 Polynomials of degree 1 are called linear. For any linear function the graph of y = f(x) is a straight line. f (x) = 2x + x + 3 Polynomials of degree 2 are called quadratic. For any quadratic function the graph of y = f(x) is a parabola. f(x) = 2x + 4x - 7 Polynomials of degree 3 are called cubic . The graphs of cubic functions do not have a characteristic shape.
3 2

(ii)

(iii)

These continue with quartics, quintics etc.

1.1 FACTORISATION OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS There is a Theorem which states that any polynomial may be expressed as a product of linear and irreducible quadratic factors. e.g. 2x + x - 2x - 4x - 3 = (2x - 3)(x + 1)(x + x + 1) (The factor x + x + 1 has no real linear factors and is called irreducible.) Unfortunately the Theorem that tells us that this is so does not tell us how to find the factors. This is frequently a source of difficulty. There is no 'method' for finding factors . It is a mixture of trial and error and practice. A result which can be useful in this respect is:2 4 3 2 2

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MathScope Handbook - Function Definitions

If a polynomial f (x) has a factor x k then f (k) = 0 and vice-versa.

Examples:3 (i) f (x) = x + 2x 3 In this case it is obvious that f (1) = 0 so that x 1 is a factor. Thus we know that x + 2x - 3 = (x - 1)(??) The question is what goes into the second bracket? A little thought suggests x + 2x - 3 = (x -1)(x +kx +3) where k is a real number .By comparing coefficients we find x + 2x - 3 = (x - 1)(x + x + 3) By using the result that a quadratic expression ax + bx + c has no real factors if 4ac > b it is seen that the quadratic factor in this example is irreducible. An alternative approach is to use a process of long division as outlined below. 2 x +x+3 3 x-1)x + 2x - 3 3 2 x x . 2 x + 2x 3 2 . x x 3x 3 3x 3 x + 2x 3 = (x 1)(x + x + 3) Giving the same result as above.
3 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3

(ii)

f (x) = x + 2x 19x 20

This time it is obvious that f (-1) = 0 and we find f (x) = (x + 1)(x + x 20) = (x + 1)(x + 5)(x 4)
2

In general if there is no obvious factor then there are numerical methods which can be employed. (These will be covered later in your course).

TUTORIAL 1

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MathScope Handbook - Function Definitions

In the following you are asked to use your knowledge of the function to produce a rough sketch. Factorise the following polynomials and sketch their graphs.( You can check your answer by setting up a table of values of x and y or by using a computer graph plotting package. ) 1) 2) 3) Tutorial solutions x + 3x - 4 4x - x - 4x + 1 x - x - 4x - 5x -3
4 3 2 3 2 3 2

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