THIRD QUARTER

MATHEMATICS 10
MODULE 2.2: LEADING COEFFICIENT TEST AND MULTIPLICITY OF ZEROS
OUTLINE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
I. Leading Coefficient Test • Two Types (Forms) of P(x)
II. Multiplicity of Zeros ◦ Factored Form:
III. Polynomial Graphs
IV. Other Examples
▪ P(x) = (x + 2) (x – 1) (x – 3)
◦ Standard Form:
▪ P(x) = 3x4 + 5x3 – 10x2 + 11
I. LEADING COEFFICIENT TEST
• The leading coefficient test tells us that the graph rises or A. NOTATION FOR END BEHAVIOR GRAPHS
falls depending on whether the leading terms are positive • As x gets bigger or smaller, what happens to the function
or negative, so for left-hand behavior (negative numbers), value?
you will need to look at both the coefficient and the
degree of the component together. EXAMPLE 1
• Whether the graph of a polynomial eventually rises or • As x → +∞, P(x) → -∞
falls can be determined by the polynomial function’s • As x → -∞, P(x) → +∞
degree (even or odd) and by its leading coefficient, as
indicated in the leading coefficient test.

• Given: P(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + an-2xn-2 + … + a1x + a0

◦ The end-behavior of any higher degree polynomial
function can be determined through its leading term.

• If n is odd: • If n is even:
◦ an > 0; the graph ◦ an > 0; the graph
falls to the left and rises to the left and
rises to the right. rises to the right.
(↓↑) (↑↑)
◦ an < 0; the graph ◦ an < 0; the graph
rises to the left and falls to the left and EXAMPLE 2
falls to the right. falls to the right. • As x → +∞, P(x) → +∞
(↑↓) (↓↓) • As x → -∞, P(x) → +∞

+ LEADING - LEADING
COEFFICIENT COEFFICIENT
EVEN DEGREE ↑↑ ↓↓
ODD DEGREE ↓↑ ↑↓

EXAMPLE 3
• As x → +∞, P(x) → -∞
• As x → -∞, P(x) → +∞

BOGNOT, P. N. 1
 MODULE 2.2 LEADING COEFFICIENT AND MULTIPLICITY OF ZEROS

B. EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 4 • Identify the zeros and their multiplicity. Then, describe
how the graph will behave at each point.
• As x → +∞, P(x) → +∞
• As x → -∞, P(x) → -∞
EXAMPLE 1
• P(x) = (x – 3) (x + 2)3

EXAMPLE 5
3 is a root with a multiplicity
• As x → +∞, P(x) → -∞ of 1.
• As x → -∞, P(x) → -∞ -2 is a root with a multiplicity
of 3.
Graph crosses the x – axis
at (3, 0)
Graph wiggles the x – axis
at (-2, 0)

EXAMPLE 2
• P(x) = 5(x + 4) (x - 7)2

-4 is a root with a multiplicity Graph crosses the x – axis

II. MULTIPLICITY OF ZEROS of 1. at (-4, 0)
• The number of times a factor (x – r) of a polynomial 7 is a root with a multiplicity Graph bounces the x – axis
function is repeated is referred to as the factor multiplicity. of 2. at (7, 0)
• The multiplicity of factors have a direct effect on the
behavior of the graph at those points. EXAMPLE 3
• P(x) = (x + 1) (x - 4) (x - 2)2
A. ROOT BEHAVIOR -1 is a root with a multiplicity Graph crosses the x – axis
of 1. at (-1, 0)

BOGNOT, P. N. 2
 MODULE 2.2 LEADING COEFFICIENT AND MULTIPLICITY OF ZEROS

4 is a root with a multiplicity Graph crosses the x – axis Zeros Root Behavior Multi Factor Factor
of 1. at (4, 0) of P(x)
2 is a root with a multiplicity Graph bounces the x – axis (1/2, x = 1/2 Wiggles 3 2x – 1 = 0 (2x – 1)
of 12 at (2, 0) 0) =0
(2, 0) x=2 Bounces 2 x–2=0 (x – 2) =
III. POLYNOMIAL GRAPHS 0
• “A polynomial P(x) is graphed. What could be the P(x) = (2x + 1)3 (x – 2)2
possible equation of P(x)?”
IV. OTHER EXAMPLES
A. EXAMPLES • “A polynomial P(x) is graphed. What could be the
EXAMPLE 1 possible equation of P(x)?”

EXAMPLE 1
• P(x) = (x + 2)3 (x) (x – 1)

Zeros Root Behavior Multi Factor Factor

of P(x)
(-7/2, x = -7/2 Crosses 1 2x + 7 = 0 (2x + 7)
0)
(0, 0) x=0 Crosses 1 x=0 (x)
(3, 0) x=3 Bounces 2 x–3=0 (x – 3)2
P(x) = (2x + 7) (x) (x – 3)2
EXAMPLE 2
EXAMPLE 2 • P(x) = (x + 1) (x – 3)5

Zeros Root Behavior Multi Factor Factor

of P(x)
(-7/2, x = -7/2 Bounces 2 2x + 7 = 0 (2x +
0) 7)2
(-1, 0) x = -1 Bounces 2 x+1=0 (x + 1)2 EXAMPLE 3
(1, 0) x=1 Crosses 1 x–1=0 (x – 1) • P(x) = (x + 2)2 (x)4 (x – 2)
P(x) = (2x + 7)2 (x + 1)2 (x – 1)

EXAMPLE 3

BOGNOT, P. N. 3