Graphing Functions

Week 2
Target

Manually sketch graphs of Manually sketch graphs of

polynomial functions. rational functions.
 Note
There is no foolproof set of
steps to perfectly sketch
graphs of functions (without
using any graphing
applications) as functions
behave differently.
For this week’s topic, we will
talk about some tips that
may help you graph
functions that have some
special values and
properties.
Graphing Polynomial
Functions
 x-intercepts and their
multiplicity; y-intercept

Here are some

tips to accurately Plot the turning points
sketch a graph of
a polynomial Determine the behaviors in between
critical values (abscissas of the
function. turning points)

Determine the end behaviors

 • Turning points, if there are any,
will be given since these points
Note require derivative (which will
be discussed in Mathematics 5)
Example 1:
𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 5 + 𝑥

Factor 𝑓 𝑥 :

𝒇 𝒙 = −𝒙(𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏)

From the factored form of 𝑓(𝑥), it

is evident that
• -1; 0; and 1, each of which has a
multiplicity of 1, are the real
zeros of 𝑓(𝑥).
• What are the implications of
having an odd multiplicity?
 5
𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 + 𝑥

Turning points:

• (0.67,0.53)
• (−0.67, −0.53)
 5
𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 + 𝑥

End behaviors:

• As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → −∞
• As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → +∞
 5
𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 + 𝑥

Note:
Determining whether a
function is even, odd, or
neither, might also help to
visualize the graph of the
function.

Is 𝑓(𝑥) even or odd? What

does it imply?
 Example 2:
𝒙𝟓 𝟐𝒙𝟒 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝟐𝟔𝒙𝟐
𝒈 𝒙 = − − + + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟖
𝟗 𝟗 𝟗 𝟗

• It would help that

1
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 2 2 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
9

• This implies that 𝑔(𝑥) has the

following zeros
• −2 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡. 1
• −3 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡. 1
• 3 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡. 1
• 2(𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡. 2)
 𝒙𝟓 𝟐𝒙𝟒 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝟐𝟔𝒙𝟐
𝒈 𝒙 = − − + + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟖
𝟗 𝟗 𝟗 𝟗

Turning points:
• −2.58,3.17
• 2,0
• (2.69, −0.44)
• (−0.52, −9.12)
𝒈 𝒙
𝒙𝟓 𝟐𝒙𝟒 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝟐𝟔𝒙𝟐
= − − + + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟖
𝟗 𝟗 𝟗 𝟗

End behaviors:

• As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → +∞
• As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → −∞
Graphing Rational
Functions
 Determine the 𝑥-intercepts
and 𝑦-intercepts (if there
Here are some are any).
tips to Determine and sketch the
accurately asymptotes and holes (if
there are any),
sketch a graph
of a rational Determine the short-
function. run behaviors

Determine the long-run

behaviors
Example 3:
5𝑥 + 10
ℎ 𝑥 = 2
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)

• Vertical Asymptotes:
𝑥 = ±1
• Horizontal
Asymptote: 𝑦 = 0
• Hole:
5
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = −2 → (−2, )
3
 5𝑥 + 10
ℎ 𝑥 = 2
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)

• ℎ(𝑥) does not have

any 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠.
• ℎ(𝑥) has −5 as its
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡.
• ℎ(𝑥) will not cross its
horizontal axis since
no value of 𝑥 will
make 𝑦 = 0 (−2 is a
restriction).
 5𝑥 + 10
ℎ 𝑥 = 2
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)

Long Run Behaviors

• As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 0
• As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 0

Short-run Behaviors
• As 𝑥 → −1− , 𝑦 → +∞
• As 𝑥 → −1+ , 𝑦 → −∞
• As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
• As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞
Example 4:
2𝑥
𝑗 𝑥 = 2
𝑥+4
• Vertical
Asymptote:
𝑥 = −4
• Horizontal
Asymptote:
𝑦=0
 2𝑥
𝑗 𝑥 = 2
𝑥+4

𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 intercepts = 0

Note:
The graph of 𝑗(𝑥) will
cross its horizontal
asymptote since there
exist a value of 𝑐 such that
𝑗(𝑐) is equal to the
constant 𝑦-value in the
horizontal asymptote.
 2𝑥
𝑗 𝑥 = 2
𝑥+4
Long Run Behavior
• As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 0

Short-run Behaviors
• As 𝑥 → −4− , 𝑦 → −∞
• As 𝑥 → −4+ , 𝑦 → −∞
 Example 5:
2𝑥 2 +3𝑥−5
k 𝑥 = 𝑥−2

• Vertical Asymptotes:
𝑥=2
• Oblique Asymptote:
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 7
• Points that contain
the intercepts:
• 0,2.5
• −2.5,0
• (1,0)
 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5
k 𝑥 =
𝑥−2

Short-run Behaviors
• As 𝑥 → 2− , 𝑦 → −∞
• As 𝑥 → 2+ , 𝑦 → +∞
Exercises
Graph the following functions
• 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙
• Turning points: { −0.58, −2.25 ; 1,4 ; 2.58, −2.25 }

𝟓 𝟏𝟗 𝟒 𝟏𝟑 𝟑 𝟑𝟕 𝟐 𝟑𝟏
• 𝒈 𝒙 = −𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝒙+ 𝟏
𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔
• Turning points: { −2.68, −7.86 ; −1.16,8.28 ; 0.41, −0.03 ; 0.83,0.30

𝒙−𝟓
•𝒉 𝒙 = (𝒙−𝟐)(𝒙+𝟏)
• Turning points: { 0.76,1.94 ; 9.24,0.057 }
Summary
For Polynomial Functions
• x-intercepts and their multiplicities; y-intercept
• Plot the turning points
• Determine the behaviors in between critical values (abscissas of the
turning points)
• Determine the end behaviors
• Substitute some values in the domain of the functions to further determine
the behavior of the function.
Note: The above-mentioned statements are just tips, some polynomial
functions may not have zeros, turning points, and other properties.
Summary
For Rational Functions
• Determine the 𝑥-intercepts and 𝑦-intercepts (if there are any).
• Determine and sketch the asymptotes and holes (if there are any),
• Determine the short-run behaviors
• Determine the long-run behaviors
• Substitute some values in the domain of the functions to further
determine the behavior of the function.
Note: The above-mentioned statements are just tips, some rational
functions may not have asymptotes and holes.
Reminders

READ AND STUDY THE LEARNING

GUIDES.

YOU MAY ANSWER THE PRACTICE

EXERCISES POSTED IN KHUB.

QUIZ 2 – NEXT WEEK