Name: _______________________________________________ Grade 10 -

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Graphing Polynomial Functions

In graphing a polynomial function, we must find the x and y intercept, the behavior of the graph and number of
turning points. You have encountered some types of a polynomial function like linear function and quadratic function.

Below are graphs of some types of function.

The graph is an example of a graph of linear function

The graph above is an example of a graph of a quadratic function

These graphs are types of a polynomial function. If we are given these kind of polynomial function x3+3x2-x-3 ?
How do we graph it? What is the form? The graph of these kind of function has many turning points (curve) like the graph
above.

The steps in graphing a polynomial function are in below.

Steps:

Step 1: Use the leading coefficient test to determine the graph’s and behavior.

What is a leading coefficient test?

This is test is to determine the end behavior of the graph. End behavior is tells you if the end point of the graph
whether it it to rise up or down. There are four cases.

Case Highest Leading Graph Example(s)

Degree Coefficient

1 Odd Positive f(x) = 5x3-2x2+5

As you can see the leading coefficient is 5
and Highest Degree is 3 which odd. So, the
end behavior of this function is rises to right
(Quadrant I) and falls to the left (Quadrant
III).

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 2 Odd Negative f(x) = -7x5+x2-8
As you can see the leading coefficient is -7
which a negative and Highest Degree is 5
which odd. So, the end behavior of this
function is falls to the right (Quadrant IV)
and rises to the left (Quadrant II).

3 Even Positive f(x) = 2x4-18x2

As you can see the leading coefficient is 2
which is positive and Highest Degree is 4
which even. So, the end behavior of this
function is rises to right (Quadrant I) and
rises to the left (Quadrant III).

4 Even Negative f(x) = -x4+2x+5

As you can see the leading coefficient is -1
which is negative and Highest Degree is 4
which even. So, the end behavior of this
function is falls to the right (Quadrant IV)
and falls to the left (Quadrant III).

Step 2: Find the x- intercept by setting p(x) equal to zero and solving the resulting polynomial equation. [or use the
Rational Theorem].

Note: x-intercepts are simply the roots or zeroes of the function. In getting the roots or zeroes of a polynomial
function is similar in getting the roots of a polynomial equation. In getting the roots, we have so many ways to use;
Using the rational roots theorem or integral zeroes (by synthetic division) or the remainder theorem or factorization.

*** If there is an x-intercept at r as a result of (x-r) k in factorization of p(x) then: (this is we common known as multiplicity
of roots)

 If k is even, the graph touches the x-axis at r and turns around.

 If k is odd, the graph crosses the x-axis at r.
 If k > 1, the graph flattens out at (r,0).

Step 3: Find the y-intercept by equating x to 0. Then simplify.

Intercepts
The intercepts are x- or y-coordinate of the points at which a graph crosses the x-axis or y-axis, respectively.

y-intercept is the y-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the 1 y -axis.
x-intercept is the x-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the 2 x-axis. ]

Step 4: Use the fact that the maximum number of turning points of the graph is (n-1) where n is the highest degree of a
polynomial function to check whether it is drawn correctly.

Example
Graph the following polynomial function.
1. p(x) = x3-x2-9x+9 3. f(x) = (x+1)2(x-1)(x-5)
2. p(x) = x4+2x3-5x2-6x 4. f(x) = (x+1)(x+2)(x-2)

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Solutions:

1. p(x) = x3-x2-9x+9

Step 1: Identify the end behavior of the graph using the leading coefficient test.

Since the highest degree is odd and the leading coefficient is positive, the end behavior
of this function is rises to right and falls to the left.

Step 2: Find the x-intercept.

In finding the x-intercept you can factor or use the Rational and Integral Root Theorem. [Recall our previous
lessons about Rational and Integral Root/Zeroes Theorem.]
Factors: (x+3)(x-1)(x-3)
Roots: 1,-3,3
x-intercepts: (1,0),(-3,0),(3,0)

Step 3: Find the y-intercept.

Substitute 0 to x.
y-intercept: (0,9)

Step 4: Identify the number of turning points.

Using the formula n-1, 3-1 = 2. 2 is the number of

turning points.

Using all the information above, we can now graph the

function.

Plot all the intercepts and connect it using a smooth curve.

As you observe the graph, there are two turning points

which coincide the given information above in the step 4.
And the end behavior is the same with the end behavior
using the leading term coefficient.

2. p(x) = x4+2x3-5x2-6x

Step 1: Identify the end behavior of the graph using the leading coefficient test.

Since the highest degree is even and the leading coefficient is positive, the end
behavior of this function is rises to right and rises to the left.

Step 2: Find the x-intercept.

In finding the x-intercept you can factor or use the Rational and Integral Root Theorem.

Factors: x(x+1)(x+3)(x-2)
Roots: 0,-1,-3,2
x-intercept: (0,0),(-1,0),(-3,0),(2,0)

[Note: For this part, we can see that there is a factor which a monomial, the zero or roots of that monomial is always equal
to 0.]

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Step 3: Find the y-intercept.
Substitute 0 to x.

y- intercept : (0,0)

Step 4: Identify the number of turning points.

Using the formula n-1, 4-1 = 3. 3 is the number of

turning points.

Using all the information above, we can now graph the

function.

Plot all the intercepts and connect it using a smooth curve.

As you observe the graph, there are two turning points

which coincide the given information above in the step 4. And
the end behavior is the same with the end behavior using the
leading term coefficient.

3. f(x) = (x+1)2(x-1)(x-5)

Step 1: Identify the end behavior of the graph using the leading coefficient test.

For this example, the function is already in factored form. It is very for us to identify the roots and x-intercept. But, in
identifying the end behavior, we multiply the factors to get the product forms.

f(x) = (x+1)2(x-1)(x-5)
= x4-4x3-6x2+4x+5

Using the product, we can now use the identify the end behavior of the graph. Since the highest degree
is even and the leading coefficient is positive, the end behavior of this function is rises to right and
rises to the left.

Step 2: Find the x-intercept.

The given function is in the factored form; we can simply identify the x-intercepts.
Factors: (x+1)2(x-1)(x-5)
roots: -1 multiplicity of 2, 1,5
x-intercepts: (-1,0),(1,0),(5,0)

[Note: If there’s a multiplicity of roots, the x-intercept of that root is should be one point. These multiplicity of roots affect
in sketching the graph.]

Step 3: Find the y-intercept.

Substitute 0 to x. [You can use any of the function either the factored form or the product form.]

y- intercept: (0,5)

Step 4: Identify the number of turning points.

Using the formula n-1, 4-1 = 3. 3 is the number of turning points.

Using all the information above, we can now graph the function.

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Plot all the intercepts and connect it using a smooth curve.

As you observe the graph, there are two turning

points which coincide the given information above in the step
4. And the end behavior is the same with the end behavior
using the leading term coefficient.

Since there’s a multiplicity of roots for this graph,

we need to consider some properties that has been given on
the Page 4. For this example, our multiplicity is 2 in the root
of 1 (-1 multiplicity of 2) the graph did
not cross and to the point (-1,0)

instead it’s just touches the point and turns around and go the point (5,0). But, if the multiplicity of a roots is an odd
number (example: 1 multiplicity of 3), the graph should cross to the specific point.

4. f(x) = (x+1)(x+2)(x-2)

Step 1: Identify the end behavior of the graph using the leading coefficient test.

For this example, the function is already in factored form. It is very for us to identify the roots and x-intercept. But, in
identifying the end behavior, we multiply the factors to get the product forms.

f(x) = (x+1)(x+2)(x-2)
= x3+x2-4x-4

Using the product, we can now use the identify the end behavior of the graph. Since the
highest degree is odd and the leading coefficient is positive, the end behavior of this function is rises to
right and falls to the left.

Step 2: Find the x-intercept.

The given function is in the factored form; we can simply identify the x-intercepts.
Factors: (x+1)(x+2)(x-2)
roots: -1,-2,2
x-intercepts: (-1,0)(-2,0),(2,0)

Step 3: Find the y-intercept.

Substitute 0 to x. [You can use any of the function either the factored form or the product form.]

y- intercept: (0,-4)

Step 4: Identify the number of turning points.

Using the formula n-1, 3-1 = 2. 2 is the number of turning points.

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Using all the information above, we can now graph the
function.

Plot all the intercepts and connect it using a smooth curve.

As you observe the graph, there are two turning

points which coincide the given information above in the step
4. And the end behavior is the same with the end behavior
using the leading term coefficient.

Example 5:

Sketch the polynomial functions p(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 5x - 6

Complete the missing steps.

Step 1: Identify the end behavior of the graph using the leading coefficient test.

Step 2: Find the x-intercept.

The given function is in the factored form; we can simply identify the x-intercepts.
Factors: (x+1)(x+3)(x-2)
roots: ____________________________
x-intercepts: __________________________

Step 3: Find the y-intercept.

Step 4: Identify the number of turning points.

Sketch the graph.

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 Practice!

Try This 1!

Graph the following polynomial functions.

1. p(x) = x(x+2)(x-4)(x+1) 2. p(x) = x3-4x2+x+6

ACTIVITY!!

The factored of each function is given. For each polynomial function, give the zeroes /x-intercepts, y-intercept, and the
number of turning points. Then, sketch the graph of the following polynomial function.

Factored Form

1. p(x) = x3+2x2-x-2 (x+2)(x – 1)(x+1)

2. p(x) = x4-7x3+11x2+7x-12 (x- 1)(x+1)(x-3)(x-4)

3. p(x) = x4 – 5x2 + 4 (x+2)(x+1)(x-1)(x-2)

4. p(x) = x3+6x2+3x-10 (x-1)(x+5)(x+2)

5. p(x) = x4-8x2+16 (x-2)2 (x+2)2