Polynomial graphs:

Polynomial - an expression consisting of variables and coefficients

A polynomial expression is of the form:

𝑦 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒𝑥 + ⋯
where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒, … are constants (which could be 0).

The order of a polynomial is its highest power.

Order Name Turning General shape

(power of) Points
0 Constant 0 𝑦 = 5:

1 Linear 0 y = mx + c:
m>0

m<0

m = 0, the order of power

= 0, so y = c
𝑥 = 5:

2 Quadratic 1 y = ax + bx + c
𝑎 > 0:

𝑎 < 0:

𝑎 = 0:
y = bx + c
3 Cubic 2 y = ax + bx + cx + d

a > 0:

a < 0:

4 Quartic 3 y = ax + bx + cx + dx + e

a > 0:

a < 0:

5 Quintic 4
n n-1
Cubic graphs:

When a > 0, The graphs start at − ∞ and ends at + ∞

 At a very high negative values → y = (−x) will be at − ∞

 At a very high positive value → y = (+x) will be at + ∞

When a < 0, The graphs start at + ∞ and ends at − ∞

Quartic

When a > 0, The graph starts at + ∞ and ends at + ∞

 At a very high negative values → y = (−x) will be at + ∞

- 𝑥 >0

 At a very high positive value → y = (+x) will be at + ∞

If the order of the polynomial is odd → graph starts at − ∞ and ends at + ∞

If the order of the polynomial is even → graph starts at + ∞ and ends at + ∞

General trends:

1. There is always n-1 turning points

2. When it the first polynomial has an order, which is odd:

- When a > 0, The graphs start at − ∞ and ends at + ∞

- When a < 0, The graphs start at + ∞ and ends at − ∞

And when the first polynomial is even:

- When a > 0, The graphs start at + ∞ and ends at + ∞

- When a < 0, The graphs start at + ∞ and ends at − ∞

3. (When sketching - and looking for intercepts - remember)

The larger the power of the polynomial - the steeper its graph
- When you differentiate - you see that the gradient is greater and is the graph is steeper
than the others

- A higher polynomial will reach ∞ quicker

(with a lower value for 𝑥)
Roots

(x − 1): Means the graphs cross/cuts through the x axis at (1,0)

(x − 1) : Means the graphs has a double root at (1,0)

(x − 1) : Means the graphs has a point of inflection at (1,0)

- x has a point of inflection at (0,0) and (x − 1) is x shifted by + 1 along x axis

- It is the point of the graph which goes from concave → converse (or vice versa)
Differentiate -

Sketching

y = (x − 2)(1 − x)(1 + x):

 Coffecient of x = −1
 Roots (y = 0) ∶ x = 2, 1, −1
- You only have one of each of these roots - showing that the graph just cuts at these
points

 Sketch:
y = x (x − 1):

 Coffecient of x = +1
 x : −∞→ ∞

 𝑥 = 0 (𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑) 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 1
- Curve touches at 0
- And then cuts through at -1

 y intercept: (x = 0), y = 0
 Sketch:
𝑦 = −𝑘(𝑥 + 𝑎) (𝑥 − 𝑏) (𝑥 − 𝑐)

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐 > 𝑏, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 − 𝑥 (𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 + ∞ → −∞ )

𝐴: 𝑦 = (3 − 𝑥) (3 + 𝑥) (1 − 𝑥)

𝐷: 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 − 1)

Cannot be A, as 𝑏 > 𝑐 and it is +𝑥

𝐵: 𝑦 = −𝑥 (𝑥 − 9)(𝑥 − 3)
Cannot be B, as it does not go repeated root at origin and it has a y intercept

𝐶: 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 2)

Cannot be C - as it is +𝑥

𝐷: 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1) (3 − 𝑥)

𝐷: 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)𝐷:

𝐷: 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)𝐷:

𝐷: 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 3)𝐷:
𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠: 𝑥 = ±
When-ever finding the maximum and minimum - always use completing the square

Max/Min of 𝑦 =

 1st complete the square:

4
𝑦=
2(𝑥 − 7𝑥) + 6

4
𝑦=
7 49
2 𝑥−2 − 4 +6

4
𝑦=
7 49
2 𝑥−2 − 2 +6

4
𝑦=
7 37
2 𝑥−2 − 2

 The minimum value is where y is the lowest value

- y is at its lowest when the denominator is at its highest
- The denominator is at its highest - when 𝑥 = ∞

 The maximum value - is where y is the highest value

- y is at its highest when the denominator is at its lowest

- Squaring either a positive or a negative value will always produce a positive value
A square is at it lowest when, you square 0 to get 0

- When 𝑥 =
7
𝑥− =0
2

7 37 37
2 𝑥− − = −
2 2 2

- Lowest possible value of denominator = −

So that the highest value of y is = −
 Finding asymptotes:
(Find asymptotes by making y & x go to infinity (high value number)
what value does it tend to)

𝑥 → ∞:
- The y values get closer and closer to 0 - but never being 0

- This can be shown two ways

1st: Try increasing values of x such as 100, 1000, 100000

2nd: To show that y never becomes 0

Make y = 0, find an x value

0=

When y becomes 0, there is no value of x - showing that there is an asymptote at y = 0

y tends to the limit of 0 - but never being 0]

y=0 are vertical asymptotes

𝑦 → ∞:
4
𝑦=
2𝑥 − 14𝑥 + 6

When 𝑦 = ∞

- 𝑦 = ∞ - when the denominator = 0

4
𝑦=
0
𝑦= ∞

- Value of x when the denominator = 0

2𝑥 − 14𝑥 + 6 = 0
𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 3 = 0

7± 7 − 4(1)(3)
𝑥=
2
7 ± √37
𝑥=
2

𝑥 = 0.459 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 6.54